High TIMP-1 levels indicated poor survival among patients with rectal cancer (HR 1.95, 95% CI 1.17–3.26, P = 0.011), with left-sided tumor (HR 1.95, 95% CI 1.27–3.00, P = 0.002), and with low CRP (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.05–2.42, P = 0.029, Fig. 2c-d). This evidence concerns the gene CRP and rectal cancer.