In order to clarify whether a loss of sIL-6R in cancer tissue was due to a primary deficiency or because of increased consumption, and to evaluate the complexity of the IL-6 system, we measured sIL-6R and sgp130 protein levels in the supernatants of HT-29 cells at various time points, with or without IL-1β and IL-1RA stimulation. Here, IL6 is linked to cancer.