title: Factors predicting survival in patients with advanced oesophageal cancer: a prospective multicentre evaluation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oesophageal cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, with poor prognosis and severe morbidity. In majority of cases, palliative treatment is the only option available.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To find factors that can predict survival for patients with incurable cancer of the oesophagus or gastro-oesophageal junction and hence aid in the choice of treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-six patients were included. Health-related quality of life questionnaires (EORTC QLQ C-30 and QLQ OES18) were administered and computerized tomography-derived size assessment of the primary tumours was performed. Univariate and multivariate Cox-regression analyses were used to determine potential predictors of survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Karnofsky Index, occurrence of metastases (M-stage), Union International Contre le Cancer-stage, computerized tomography-derived tumour size assessment and 10 of 25 scales and single items from the health-related quality of life questionnaires were found to be related to survival. In the multivariate analysis, three of the health-related quality of life questionnaire scales (physical functioning, fatigue and reflux) were found to add prognostic information to M-stage, the single strongest predictor (HR 1.9, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to M-stage, the outcome of health-related quality of life questionnaires can sharpen the prediction of survival in patients with advanced cancer of the oesophagus or gastro-oesophageal junction and thus aid in the choice of palliative treatment strategy.
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden. henrik.bergquist@vgregion.se
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Bergquist
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Johnsson
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Hammerlid
authors: U
authors: U
authors: Wenger
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Lundell
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Ruth
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010166:Palliative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015607:Stents; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D047368:Tumor Burden