Prognostic usefulness of the C-reactive protein-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index as a novel biomarker in patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery

Background: The C-reactive protein (CRP)–albumin–lymphocyte (CALLY) index is a novel immuno-nutritional biomarker based on the levels of CRP, serum albumin, and lymphocyte count. This study examined the prognostic value of the CALLY index in patients with colorectal cancer undergoing curative surgery. Methods: Between 2010 and 2017, 578 patients with stage II-III colorectal cancer who underwent curative resection were enrolled. The CALLY index was defined as (albumin × lymphocyte)/(CRP × 104). We investigated the association of the CALLY index with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: The cutoff value of the CALLY index was determined to be 2. Of the 578 patients, 175 (30%) had a preoperative CALLY index