Association of inflammatory biomarkers with survival among patients with stage III colon cancer

The association of chronic inflammation with colorectal cancer recurrence and death is not well understood. In a cohort study of 1494 patients with stage III colon cancer, 3 canonical inflammatory biomarkers (interleukin 6, soluble tumor necrosis factor α receptor 2, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) were measured 3 to 8 weeks after surgery but before initiation of chemotherapy. Higher levels of inflammatory biomarkers were significantly associated with increased risk of recurrence and mortality, even after adjustment for clinical, pathological, and lifestyle factors. The authors conclude that higher inflammation after diagnosis is significantlyassociated with worse survival outcomes among patients with stage III colon cancer. This finding warrants further investigation to evaluate whether anti-inflammatory interventions may improve colon cancer outcomes.