Using a multivariate risk model derived from the retrospective analysis of 425 patients with metastatic renal-cell carcinoma, we categorised patients into three distinct risk groups based on the following six prognostic factors for poor survival: (1) neutrophil count ⩾6500 cells μl1, (2) serum level of LDH ⩾220 U l−1, (3) serum level of CRP ⩾11 mg l−1, (4) time between diagnosis of tumour and metastatic disease less than 3 years, (5) three and more metastatic sites, and (6) the presence of bone metastases. This evidence concerns the gene CRP and metastatic neoplasm.