Serum concentrations of TNF-α, CYFRA 21.1, IL-1ra, IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-2Rα and CA125 were found to be significantly higher in the NSCLC group (Mann–Whitney rank sum (two-sided) test P-values ⩽0.001), whereas the concentration of MCP-1, CRP, MMP-2 and sE-selectin were found to be significantly higher in the control group (P-values ⩽0.001). Here, IL6 is linked to non-small cell lung carcinoma.