C-reactive protein

C-reactive protein is an acute-phase reactant synthesized by the liver in response to IL-6–driven inflammation.

In oncology, it serves as a host-response biomarker, not a tumor marker.

An elevated CRP integrates multiple cancer-relevant processes:
-Tumor-associated inflammation and necrosis
-Cytokine signaling (especially IL-6)
-Infection or treatment-related tissue injury
-Cachexia and systemic catabolism

Because it aggregates these signals, CRP is a powerful global severity indicator.

Prognosis (Primary Use)
-Higher baseline CRP correlates with shorter overall survival across many cancers.
-Rising CRP often precedes clinical decline.

Treatment Tolerance & Risk
-Elevated CRP predicts poor chemotherapy tolerance, higher complication rates, and inferior immunotherapy outcomes in several settings.