Preoperative serum C-reactive protein predicts long-term outcome in patients undergoing resection for early stage NSCLC

Introduction: Inflammation has been shown to contribute to tumor pathogenesis and progression. We hypothesized that elevated preoperative serum C-reactive protein (CRP) is a predictor of worse outcome in patients who underwent anatomical lung resection for NSCLC in stage I. Methods: We conducted a single center retrospective cohort study including patients operated on for NSCLC in stage I between 2002 and 2009. Data recorded apart from preoperative CRP included sex, age, tumor histology, type of surgical procedure, preoperative lung function parameters, preoperative radiation and chemotherapy, surgical and non-s…