Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy worldwide and a major cause of cancer-related mortality. Ap­proximately 50% of patients with CRC develop metastases. Hence, it is crucial to predict the prognosis in these patients. Currently, the TNM staging system by the American Joint Committee on Cancer is commonly employed in monitoring CRC. Tumor location and genetics are other determinants of CRC prognosis.

However, there is a need for simpler, faster, and more cost-effective methods to predict treatment outcomes for CRC. Several studies have established the efficacy of pre-treatment laboratory markers that can guide diagnosis and short-term and long-term prognosis for cancers, including CRC. This article discusses various pretreatment inflammatory markers and their efficacy in reflecting the short- and long-term outcomes of patients with CRC. Inflammation and cancer…