title: Analysis of the tumor length and other prognosis factors in pT1-2 node-negative esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in a Chinese population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tumor length is an important prognostic factor for many carcinomas, but its role in esophageal cancer remained undetermined. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of tumor length on survival for patients with confined tumors (grade pT1-2) without lymph-node metastases in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 201 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) who had undergone surgical resection and been confirmed as pT1-2N0M0. The relationship of tumor length with overall survival was assessed and compared with other factors detailed in the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) staging system published in 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall survival (OS) rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 93.0%, 83.7%, and 69.2%, respectively. The tumor length adversely affected OS, with the 5-year rate being 93.5%, 82.0%, 68.6%, 67.9%, 55.3% and 41.1%, respectively for tumor lengths of less than 10 mm, 10 to 20 mm, 20 to 30 mm, 30 to 40 mm, 40 to 50 mm, and greater than 50 mm (P< 0.001). Multivariate analyses showed that the pathologic T classification and grade of tumor was significantly associated with OS. Tumor length of 30 mm or more remained an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.04), as did the other current TNM factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tumor length appears to affect the OS of patients with early-stage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. It may provide additional prognostic information for the current TNM staging system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemotherapy, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, 38 Guangji Road, 310022 Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhengbo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jiwen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Baochai
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yiping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016629:Esophagectomy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate