Protein kinases are important signaling molecules involved in tumorigenesis. Mutational analysis of the human tyrosine kinase gene family (98 genes) identified somatic alterations in -20% of colorectal cancers, with the majority of mutations occurring in NTRK3, FES, GUCY2F and a previously uncharacterized tyrosine kinase gene called MCCK/MLK4. Most alterations were in conserved residues affecting key regions of the kinase domain. These data represent a paradigm for the unbiased analysis of signal transducing genes in cancer and provide useful targets for therapeutic intervention.