SynthesisBMC gastroenterology2026
Prognostic value of the prognostic nutritional index in colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC gastroenterology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Association between prognostic nutritional index and prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors: a meta-analysis.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Pooled it
- Prognostic value of prognostic nutritional index in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing hepatectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in oncology · 2026Pooled it
- Predictors of Metastatic Lymph Node Burden in Colorectal Cancer: A Negative Binomial Regression Analysis.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Preoperative Immunonutritional Indices in Colorectal Cancer: The Contribution of Albumin, Time-Dependence of Effect, and Threshold Transportability in a Saudi Cohort.Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.) · 2026Article
- Exploratory Development and Interpretation of an Internally Validated XGBoost-Cox Model Based on Preoperative Inflammation-Nutrition Indices for Overall Survival in Primary Pathological Stage I Rectal Cancer.Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.) · 2026Article
- Prognostic Value of the Prognostic Nutritional Index in Patients with Metastatic Melanoma.Journal of Cancer · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThis meta-analysis evaluates the prognostic significance of the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, focusing on overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and progression-free survival (PFS).
methodsWe conducted a comprehensive literature search across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and CNKI. Observational studies reporting hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for survival outcomes based on PNI were included. Pooled HRs were calculated using random-effects models. Heterogeneity, sensitivity, and publication bias were evaluated, and subgroup analyses were performed by region, follow-up duration, and tumor stage.
resultsA total of 43 studies comprising 19,214 CRC patients were included the meta-analysis. 36 studies with 18,231 patients reported the prognostic value of PNI on the OS of CRC, and the pooled HR was 1.89 (95% CI: 1.70–2.10, P < 0.001). This association remained robust across sensitivity analyses, suggesting PNI as a reliable biomarker for risk stratification. Moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 32.9%) was observed, which subgroup analyses attributed to study region, follow-up duration, and inclusion criteria for CRC stages. Non-Asian cohorts, studies with shorter follow-up or partial staging and high cut-off value of PNI exhibited reduced heterogeneity. Eleven studies with 5,181 patients reported the prognostic value for DFS, and the pooled HR was 1.31 (95% CI: 0.84–2.03). Nine studies with 2,856 patients were for PFS, and the pooled HR was 1.15 (95% CI: 0.78–1.72), neither reaching statistical significance. Significant heterogeneity was noted for both DFS and PFS across the studies.
conclusionsThis meta-analysis demonstrates that a low PNI is a robust predictor of poor overall survival in colorectal cancer, particularly in Asian populations and across diverse disease stages. While its prognostic value for DFS and PFS remains uncertain.
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