Survival and prognostic factors in patients with resected epidermoid oesophageal carcinoma

To determine long-term survival of patients with thoracic oesophageal tumor who underwent resection, and to identify possible associated prognostic fa ctors, 58 patients underwent oesophagectomy alone (group A) and 16 combined with neo-adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (group B). Univariate and multivariate analysis of prognostic factors were performed for age, depth of oesophagea l wall tumour penetration, node involvement, type of resection, TNM stage a nd degree ol: tumour differentiation. Longterm survival rates at 1-5 years were 81% versus 89%; 56% versus 67%; 30% versus 67%; 12% versus 44%; and 0% versus 33% for group A and B, respectively (P = 0,0543,NS). Univariate ana lysis revealed only depth of invasion (P = 0.0076) and TNM stage (P = 0.045 2) as isolated prognostic factors for long-term survival and multivariate a nalysis did not demonstrate any independent factor. Despite the small numbe r of eases, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy seems to improve prognosis as wel l as to allow resection in a greater number of cases due to tumor downstagi ng.