Development of Novel Prognostic Prediction Models including the Prognostic Nutritional Index for Patients with Colorectal Cancer after Curative Resection

Objectives: It has been reported that there is an association between the nutritional condition and the prognosis of cancer. Here, we evaluated the relation between the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: A total of 184 patients with CRC who underwent curative surgery from October 2011 to December 2012 at the Osaka University Hospital were investigated. According to the median PNI value of our data set, patients were classified into a high-PNI (≥46) group and a low-PNI (<46) group. The relationship between the PNI and the disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) was analyzed by a Cox regression model. Results: A low PNI was significantly associated with poor DFS (P = 0.006) and OS (P < 0.001). A multivariate analysis showed that low PNI, venous invasion (present), and tumor location (rectum) were independent risk factors for recurrence. Low PNI, advanced age, and venous invasion were found to be independent risk factors for mortality. Using these clinicopathological factors, we developed nomograms to predict DFS and OS. The concordance index was 0.828 for DFS and 0.756 for OS. Conclusions: A low PNI is a prognostic indicator for recurrence and mortality in CRC. Nomograms constructed by clinicopathological factors including the PNI can provide individual prognostic outcomes.