Hello Doctor,
My cousin has colon cancer, and the CRP has increased very high. What might cause this, and is it risky?
Hello,
Thank you for reaching out to Dr. Galen. Please find the response to your query below.
The CRP (C-reactive protein) is an inflammatory marker that indicates the presence of active inflammation in the body. This value rises in any situation involving inflammation and is not specific to cancer. In this case, it reflects the inflammatory status due to cancer. The presence of cancer cells triggers the immune system's response, leading to inflammation as it attempts to combat the cancer.
However, inflammation can be a double-edged sword, as it may also stimulate cancer cells to mutate and proliferate due to the growth factors present in the inflammatory microenvironment. While some studies suggest a slight correlation between high CRP levels and poor prognosis in colon cancer—indicating potential recurrence and reduced survival—these findings should be interpreted cautiously.
It is crucial to initiate treatment as soon as possible and evaluate the possibility of surgical resection.
Thanks
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