CRP and neoplasm: A close association was observed between elevated hs-CRP levels (CRP>5.0 mg/l) and clinical lymph nodal status (P<0.001), distant metastasis (P=0.012), vascular and perineural invasion (P<0.001 and P<0.001), tumor differentiation (P=0.022) and clinical stage (P=0.001) (Table I).