RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the value of preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer after radical operation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 140 patients with colorectal cancer undergoing radical operation in the Department of General Surgery of General Hospital of PLA from July 2005 to July 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. According to preoperative NLR, patients were divided into the low NLR group (NLR<5, n=105) and the high NLR group (NLR≥5, n=35). The overall 5-year survival rates of two groups were compared and the independent risk factors were examined by univariate analysis and Cox model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall 5-year survival rates of the low and high NLR groups were 74.8% and 54.7% respectively with significant difference (P=0.03). Univariate analysis revealed depth of tumor, lymph nodes metastasis, TMN stage and NLR were associated with survival (P<0.05, P<0.01). Cox model showed that NLR was independent risk factor of prognosis (RR=1.068, 95%CI:1.009-1.129, P=0.02).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Preoperative NLR≥5 predicts poorer prognosis of colorectal cancer patients.</p>