AIM: To investigate the occurrence of cellular src (c-src)activating mutation at codon 531 in colorectal cancer patients from Chinese mainland.METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay followed by sequencing and single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis were carried out to screen 110 samples of primary colorectal cancer and 20 colorectal liver metastases.RESULTS: Only one sample showed PCR-RFLP-positive results and carried somatic codon 531 mutations. No additional mutation of c-src exon 12 was found.CONCLUSION: c-src codon 531 mutation in colorectal cancer is not the cause of c-src activation.