Prognostic role and clinical significance of C-reactive protein-lymphocyte ratio in colorectal cancer

Systemic inflammatory response (SIRS) can be used as a potential prognostic marker in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive role of the C-reactive protein (CRP)-lymphocyte ratio (CLR) in the prognosis of CRC. We retrospectively analyzed the data of CRC patients who underwent surgery from 2004 to 2019. The clinicopathological characteristics and follow-up records were analyzed. According to a cutoff value of CLR, the patients were divided into the high and low groups. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards regression model were applied to assess the overall survival (OS). Clinicopathological characteristics analysis showed that gender, age, BMI, lymphocyte count, tumor location, left- and right-sided CRC, differentiation, T stage, M stage, TNM stage, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CLR, CRP, and microsatellite status were found to differ significantly between the high and low CLR groups. Kaplan-Meier curves revealed that the high CLR group had a shorter OS, and the elderly or right-sided CRC patients faced a worse prognosis. Multivariate analysis suggested that age (hazard ratio [HR]:1.011, P = 0.003), differentiation (HR:1.331, P = 0.000), TNM stage (HR:2.425, P = 0.000), CEA (HR:1.001, P = 0.025), CLR (HR:1.261, P = 0.014) were significant independent prognostic factors for OS. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that females or patients not receiving postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with high CLR might suffer a worse prognosis. Overall, CLR can be applied as a promising prognostic marker in CRC patients and has great potential in guiding clinical work.