Prognostic correlation analysis of colorectal cancer patients based on monocyte to lymphocyte ratio and folate receptor-positive circulating tumor cells and construction of a machine learning survival prediction models

High MLR and high FR+CTCs are associated with a poorer PFS in CRC patients, suggesting their utility in prognostic assessment. NLR and PLR did not show significant prognostic value in this study. The RF algorithm-based model showed the best predictive performance for post-radical treatment outcomes in CRC.