IL‐6 is a characteristic cytokine in cervical cancer, which is up‐regulated in CIN III and during the tumour stage.16 High expression of IL‐6 in serum or tumour is an unfavourable factor in the prognosis of patients with cervical cancer.17 As cervical cancer cells themselves have no IL‐6 receptor α‐chain,18, 19 this pleiotropic cytokine might regulate the non‐tumour cell components through paracrine action, mainly local‐infiltrated immune cells, and be involved in the establishment of a tumour‐supportive microenvironment. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is uterine cervix carcinoma in situ.