title: Inflammation-based prognostic score and number of lymph node metastases are independent prognostic factors in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Few studies have investigated whether the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), an inflammation-based prognostic score, is useful for postoperative prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  GPS was calculated on the basis of admission data as follows: patients with elevated C-reactive protein level (>10 mg/l) and hypoalbuminemia (<35 g/l) were assigned to GPS2. Patients with one or no abnormal value were assigned to GPS1 or GPS0. A new scoring system was constructed using independent prognostic variables and was evaluated on whether it could be used to dictate the choice of clinical options.
  
  
  RESULTS
  65 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled. GPS and the number of lymph node metastases were found to be independent prognostic variables. The scoring system comprising GPS and the number of lymph node metastases was found to be effective in the prediction of a long-term outcome (p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative GPS may be useful for postoperative prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. GPS and the number of lymph node metastases could be used to identify a subgroup of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who are eligible for radical resection but show poor prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Showa General Hospital, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teruya
authors.forename: Tomokazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kishiki
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Yoshiharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takenaka
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miki
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morita
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis