In the tumour microenvironment, IL-6 acts as a pleiotropic proinflammatory cytokine, which has several main roles in cancer progression, migration and angiogenesis.32 Circulating IL-6 is associated with tumour stage, metastasis and survival.6 In a meta-analysis, patients with a high serum IL-6 level had a 1.76-fold higher risk of poor OS and a 2.97-fold higher risk of poor disease-free survival.33 In this study, IL-6 was associated with survival in univariate but not in multivariable analysis. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is neoplasm.