Preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) is well recognized as a prognostic factor of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The present study aimed to elucidate the prognostic impact of postoperative CRP in patients with NSCLC following lung resection.

We retrospectively reviewed 336 patients with NSCLC treated with lung resection. CRP levels were measured at postoperative week 6 (CRP_6w; range: 4-8 weeks). Patients were divided into two groups based on CRP_6w median value (5.0 mg/l); the 5-year overall survival (OS) as well as the recurrence-free survival (RFS) was evaluated in both groups.

Five-year OS and RFS were worse in the high-CRP_6w group than in the low-CRP_6w group (62.9% vs. 82.9%; p<0.001, 48.4% vs. 76.1%; p<0.001, respectively). Subgroup analysis for pathological stage I and ≥II also revealed worse OS in the high-CRP_6w group. Multivariate analysis revealed an association between high CRP_6w and worse OS (hazard ratio, 2.23; p<0.001).

CRP_6w may serve as a prognostic biomarker in patients with resected NSCLC.