Indeed there is now good evidence that markers of systemic inflammatory response are prognostic cancer biomarkers, particularly in colorectal, gastro-oesophageal and renal cancers (Roxburgh and McMillan, 2010), and a prognostic score based on serum c-reactive protein and albumin (the Glasgow Prognostic Score) has been proposed for oesophageal cancer (Vashist et al, 2011). The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is cancer.