This study aimed to assess the relationship between the Cancer-Inflammation Prognostic Index (CIPI) and disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with stage I-III colorectal cancer (CRC). The relationship between the CIPI and survival was evaluated using restricted cubic splines. Survival curves were established using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards models were used to explore independent prognostic factors for CRC. Meaningful variables from the multivariate analysis were used to construct prognostic nomograms. The relationship between the CIPI values on a continuous scale and the risk of DFS/OS mortality was an inverted L-shape. Patients with a high CIPI had significantly lower DFS (53.0% vs. 68.5%, p < 0.001) and OS (55.5% vs. 71.7%, p < 0.001) than those with a low CIPI. The CIPI can also serve as an effective auxiliary tool to further distinguish the prognosis of patients with CRC at the same pathological stage, especially for stages II and III. After multivariate adjustment, a high CIPI was found to be an independent risk factor for DFS (HR 1.443, 95% CI 1.203-1.730, p < 0.001) and OS (HR 1.442, 95% CI 1.189-1.749, p < 0.001) in CRC patients. These nomograms have the advantage of integrating individual profiles, tumour characteristics, and serum inflammatory markers, providing favourable discrimination and calibration values. Compared with traditional TNM staging, nomograms have a better predictive performance. The CIPI is an effective and easy-to-use clinical tool for predicting the recurrence and overall mortality of patients with stage I-III CRC.
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