HP and cancer: In contrast to the pre-metastatic and early metastatic phases, the late metastatic phase of disease (5–6 weeks after cancer cell transplantation) was characterized by a robust systemic inflammation, including substantial leucocytosis, increases in RBC number, MCV and HCT, elevated platelet number, mean platelet volume, as well as increased plasma concentration of acute phase proteins (haptoglobin, serum amyloid A) and IL-6.