Studies are ongoing in relation to YKL-40 genotyping in this large cohort of 8899 subjects and we want to test the following hypotheses: (1) genetic variants in the YKL-40 gene are associated to plasma levels of YKL-40 in the general population; (2) genetic variants in the YKL-40 gene are a risk factor for future cancer; and (3) genetic variants in the YKL-40 gene are associated to certain types of cancer. The gene discussed is CHI3L1; the disease is cancer.