We initially searched for the presence of C1q, C1s, C4 and C3 in a panel of 30 invasive malignant neoplasm specimens including 6 cases of colon adenocarcinoma, 6 cases of melanoma, 6 cases of lung adenocarcinoma, 6 cases of breast adenocarcinoma and 6 cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The gene discussed is C4A; the disease is colon adenocarcinoma.