An alternative explanation is that an elevated C-reactive protein concentration may identify those patients with a proangiogenic environment, as angiogenesis is associated with poor outcome in patients with GI tumours (Tanigawa et al, 1997; Fondevila et al, 2004) and circulating concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor are directly associated with C-reactive protein (Xavier et al, 2006). The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is digestive system neoplasm.