Combined plasma C-reactive protein, interleukin 6 and YKL-40 for detection of cancer and prognosis in patients with serious nonspecific symptoms and signs of cancer.

In conclusion, plasma CRP, IL-6 and YKL-40 alone or combined cannot be used to identify patients with cancer, but high levels were associated with poor prognosis. CRP may be useful to indicate whether further diagnostic evaluation is needed when patients present with nonspecific signs and symptoms of cancer.