We observed that adjustment for CRP moderately attenuated the association with risk close to diagnosis; e.g. considering models for SII and colorectal cancer as examples, the HR estimate at one month was 1.70 (95% CI 1.46–1.98) in the unadjusted models, 1.52 (95% CI 1.26–1.82) when adjusting for CRP, 1.50 (95% CI 1.24–1.80) in the minimally adjusted models and 1.49 (95% CI 1.24–1.79) in the fully adjusted models. The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is colorectal cancer.