To investigate the role of tumour tissue in the genesis of systemic inflammation in cancer patients, we measured cytokine (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) mRNA and protein concentrations in tumour tissue collected from patients with gastro-oesophageal cancer and tissue from healthy controls and related these measurements to systemic concentrations of cytokines and acute phase proteins (APPs). The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is cancer.