Huang W, et al. - In patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who have undergone curative resection, researchers conducted this retrospective study to explore the connection between preoperative serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and cancer-specific prognosis. Participants in the study were 961 patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer who had curative esophagectomy from 2006 to 2012 at the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center. Data reported that 3- and 5-year survival rates were 68 and 56%, respectively, in patients with low preoperative CRP levels and 57 and 53%, respectively, in those with high preoperative CRP levels. Univariate survival analysis showed that prognostic factors for OS were the preoperative CRP levels, TNM stage, tumor grade, drinking history, and anastomosis method. In patients who have undergone curative resection for esophageal squamous cell cancer, a high preoperative CRP level (> 5.0 mg/mL) anticipates worse survival prognosis.