There is increasing evidence that the presence of a systemic inflammatory response, as evidenced by elevated circulating concentrations of C-reactive protein, is associated with increased recurrence and poor survival in patients undergoing potentially curative surgery for colorectal cancer (McMillan et al, 1995,2003; Nozoe et al, 1998; Nielsen et al, 2000; Wigmore et al, 2001; Chung and Chang, 2003). Here, CRP is linked to colorectal cancer.