Interestingly, Otani and colleagues, in a nested case-control study of 38,000 people during an 11 year period, demonstrated CRP to be significantly associated with CRC in the early stages of tumor growth [122], while Gunter found a 25% increase in CRP levels in CRC patients compared to controls, and a stronger association in lean patients [123]. The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is neoplasm.