The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6), appears to play a key role in both local and systemic inflammation in colorectal cancer, with an association between IL-6 expression and more pronounced systemic inflammation (as measured by mGPS) in operable colorectal cancer.31,32 It has been proposed that elevated serum IL-6 is associated with tumor necrosis, angiogenesis, disease progression, and metastasis.31 The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is colorectal cancer.