The authors have previously reported that a messenger RNA (mRNA) bearing 60% homology to elongation factor 1 gamma in Artemia salina was overexpressed in 7 of 9 pancreatic tumors relative to normal appearing adjacent tissue. The purpose of the present study was to determine if this pattern of overexpression is also detected in colorectal carcinoma. Overexpression was observed in 25 of 29 colorectal carcinomas, relative to normal adjacent tissue. Of them, mRNA was overexpressed in 2 tumors classified as Dukes' D, in 8 of 11 tumors classified as Dukes' B2, and in 15 of 16 tumors classified as Dukes' C2.