C-Reactive Protein-Albumin-Lymphocyte Index (Cally) As A Prognostic Biomarker in Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review

Globally, colorectal cancer is ranked as the third highest incidence of cancer and the second highest cause of death; therefore, it is in dire need of prognostic markers that can be implemented in health facilities. The C-reactive protein-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index is a biomarker that uses the values of CRP, albumin, and lymphocyte counts, which have been utilized to predict the prognosis of various diseases, including colorectal cancer. The research involved a thorough search of several databases, such as PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, from 2018 to 2025. The journal search strategy began with the determination of research questions using PICO. This study applied inclusion and exclusion criteria to refine the journal searches. A significant increase in the CALLY index predicts a reduced risk of death. The CALLY index has a higher prognostic value than other prognostic factors for colorectal cancer. Stage II-III colorectal cancer patients with a low pre-operative CALLY index have a significantly worse prognosis. Lower CALLY values are associated with a poorer prognosis of colorectal cancer. A prospective multicenter study with a larger and more diverse population is needed to validate the findings of this study.