The mRNA for the 1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) was expressed not only in hepatoma cells, but also in non- hepatic cancer cells. The expression of the AAG mRNA in HT-29 human colon carcinoma cells is induced by cytokines, IL-6, IL-1, and TNF-, in a manner characteristic of the acute phase response, and the expression of AAG mRNA was up-regulated in differentiated HT-29 cells.