Decreased preoperative serum albumin level predicted poor overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.44–2.45, P<0.0001), cancer-specific survival (CSS) (HR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.42–2.90, P=0.0001), recurrence-free survival (HR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.15–2.97, P=0.01), 30-day complications (30dCs) after surgery (odds ratio (OR) = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.16–3.20, P=0.01), and 90-day mortality after surgery (OR = 4.24, 95% CI: 2.20–8.16, P<0.001). Here, ALB is linked to cancer.