CRP and cancer: Whether increased CRP serum concentrations result from active secretion of tumor cells or activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) or whether increased CRP levels result from tumor growth, progression and associated immune response is unclear [38–41] In accordance with our data, we speculate that elevated CRP levels in TETs most likely results from cancer-related inflammation, caused by the interaction of immune cells (e.g. PBMCs) and tumor cells, which in turn leads to increased CRP production by hepatocytes.