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The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score, calculated using the serum albumin level, total cholesterol level (T-cho), and peripheral lymphocyte count, is a widely accepted prognostic marker for colorectal cancer (CRC). However, T-cho is often not measured in clinical practice, limiting its applicability. In the recently proposed modified CONUT (mCONUT) score, T-cho was replaced with hemoglobin concentration. This study evaluated the prognostic utility of the mCONUT score in patients with CRC undergoing curative resection.

This study included 290 patients who underwent curative surgery for CRC at our institution between January 2017 and December 2019. The CONUT and mCONUT scores were calculated, and their prognostic values were assessed using the Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.

Among 290 patients, 42 and 248 were assigned to the high and low CONUT groups, and 88 and 202 to the high and low mCONUT groups, respectively. Overall survival (OS) was significantly lower in the high CONUT and mCONUT groups (p<0.001). Multivariate analysis identified a high mCONUT score as an independent prognostic factor for poor OS (p=0.014).

Preoperative nutritional status affects CRC prognoses. Thus, the mCONUT score may be a useful prognostic marker.