Expression of C-reactive protein by renal cell carcinomas and unaffected surrounding renal tissue.

Background: Elevation of plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) is common in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Renal tubular epithelial cells are capable of synthesizing CRP. Although production of interleukin (IL)-6 has been described in RCC, CRP expression by carcinoma cells has yet not been investigated.