Univariate analyses revealed that an increase in the IL-6 level was associated with low levels of albumin (<4.0 g/dL), high serum CRP (≥0.5 mg/L), high serum CEA (≥5.0 ng/dL), high serum CA19-9 (≥37 ng/dL), venous invasion, tumor depth of pT4 disease, distant metastasis, and colorectal obstruction (Table 2). The gene discussed is ALB; the disease is neoplasm.