Postoperative C-reactive protein levels are key indicators for survival outcomes in gastric cancer patients.

• Elevated CRP post-surgery correlates with increased mortality and recurrence risk (HR: 1.51 for OS, HR: 1.44 for RFS).
• CRP peak in the first week after surgery shows strong prognostic value, predicting worse outcomes (HR: 1.80 for OS, HR: 1.63 for RFS).

Incorporating CRP monitoring could enhance patient selection and outcome predictions in surgical practice.

• Optimal timing and thresholds for CRP measurements should be established in future studies.