Prognostic value of lymphocyte to C‑reactive protein ratio in resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

The lymphocyte to C-reactive protein ratio (LCR), recognized as a novel inflammatory marker, has exhibited prognostic relevance across diverse malignant tumors. However, investigations regarding its prognostic significance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain scarce. In this investigation, 914 individuals with ESCC who underwent radical surgical intervention were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate the correlation between LCR and clinicopathological characteristics, as well as overall survival (OS). The findings indicated that individuals classified within the low LCR group displayed markedly elevated proportions of T3/T4a stages, stage III disease, and increased inflammatory markers. Survival analyses demonstrated that diminished LCR was significantly associated with reduced 3-year and 5-year OS, while multivariate Cox regression analysis established LCR as an independent prognostic indicator. A predictive nomogram integrating LCR with tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging yielded a superior area under the curve values for 3-year and 5-year OS prediction compared to TNM staging alone. These results suggest that LCR functions as an independent prognostic parameter for postoperative ESCC, and that the combined nomogram model incorporating LCR and TNM staging may offer a refined tool for individualized clinical survival evaluation. The observed association between reduced LCR levels and both tumor progression and systemic inflammation implies potential therapeutic implications.