With worsening malnutrition, CRP rose from 3.11 [1.23, 6.28] to 10.00 [3.20, 40.70] mg/L and WBC from 5.70 [4.51, 7.24] to 6.39 [4.84, 8.71] × 10<sup>9</sup>/L (both p < 0.001), indicating that prolonged smoking and aggravated malnutrition were associated with elevated systemic inflammation.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Smoking and malnutrition are crucial prognostic factors for survival in cancer patients. Here, CRP is linked to malnutrition.