Comment on "The Consensus Coding Sequences of Human Breast and Colorectal Cancers"

Sjöblom et al. (Research Article, 13 October 2006, p. 268) reported nearly 200 novel cancer genes said to have a 90% probability of being involved in colon or breast cancer. However, their analysis raises two statistical concerns. When these concerns are addressed, few genes with significantly elevated mutation rates remain. Although the biological methodology in Sjöblom et al. is sound, more samples are needed to achieve sufficient power.