CST3 and neoplasm: Among nonlaryngeal tumour samples, no difference was found in matched pairs of normal mucosa and its tumour counterparts, and marginally significant trend of higher cystatin C concentrations was observed in early disease compared to advanced tumours (UICC pTNM stages I–II vs III–IV: 18.1 vs 13.8 ng mgp−1, P=0.052).