In this study, we prospectively sampled preoperative plasma of CRC patients undergoing surgical treatment at our Institution and we assessed whether the levels of cytokines and chemokines represented by IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, TNFalpha, CCL2, CXCL8, VEGF and the acute phase protein Pentraxin-3 might be associated with postoperative disease recurrence in a 5-year follow-up study. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is colorectal carcinoma.