Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study investigated the impact of postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) level on survival in patients with esophageal cancer who received perioperative steroid therapy and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) care. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Overall, 115 patients were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were classified into those with a high CRP level (≥4.0 mg/dl) on postoperative day 4 and those with low CRP level (<4.0 mg/dl). The risk factors for overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were identified. RESULTS: The OS and RFS rates at 5 years after surgery were significantly low in patients with high CRP level on postoperative day 4. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that high CRP level on postoperative day 4 was a significant independent risk factor for OS and RFS. CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that the postoperative CRP level can be a prognosticator in patients with esophageal cancer who have received perioperative steroid therapy and ERAS care.