Also, soluble TNF receptor (sTNF-RII), IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) have been reported to be associated with the systemic inflammatory response in lung cancer patients (Yanagawa et al, 1996; Simons et al, 1999; Alexandrakis et al, 2000). The gene discussed is CXCL8; the disease is lung carcinoma.