The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in New Zealand non-Maori women is recognized as the highest in the world. Further, the highest global rates of CRC occur in New Zealand and Australian populations. We are profiling the gene expression of CRC cell lines using cDNA microarrays with the aim of providing baseline data for a clinical investigation into the genetic events involved in metastasis of this disease. Presently, the genetic mechanisms behind metastasis of CRC are poorly understood. The development of metastasis significantly reduces five-year survival of CRC patients from at least 70% with no metastatic involvement, to 35–65% with lymph node involvement, and 5% with distant metastasis. We have generated cell lines from patient tumour samples with varying Dukes classification of disease pathology. Of particular interest are two cell lines from the same individual obtained one year apart that are derived from non-metastatic CRC at the Dukes B stage, and metastatic CRC at the Dukes C stage. Gene expression data comparing the metastatic and non-metastatic cell lines will be presented. Greater understanding of the molecular processes involved in the initiation and progression of CRC may provide new clinical options for CRC screening and treatment, and for prediction and prevention of metastatic events in CRC.