Protein May Have Link to Colon Cancer
(Chicago, AP, 2/3/04)

Dr. Thomas Erlinger of Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, and team, analyzed data gathered during an unrelated 11-year study of 22,887 adults in Washington County Maryland, and found that those with the highest C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels were more than twice as likely to develop colon cancer as those with the lowest levels. The liver produces CRP in response to inflammation anywhere in the body and scientists must determine whether CRP is predictive of colon cancer, indicates early cancer or is merely a reflection of chronic intestinal inflammation, which is a known risk factor for colon cancer.