Evaluation of Preoperative Elevation of Serum C-Reactive Protein as an Indicator for Prognosis in Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

Background: The C-reactive protein (CRP) is a product synthesized in hepatocytes and has been reported to be up-regulated by such proinflammatory cytokines as interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). The significance of a preoperative serum elevation in CRP as a predictive indicator for the malignant potential and prognosis in colorectal cancer has not been elucidated.