title: Biologic factors associated with tumor oxygenation are prognostic in patients with stage III esophageal cancer: long-term results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Long-term results of a study investigating potential prognostic factors for treatment outcomes in patients with stage III esophageal cancer are presented.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 64 patients, the impact of tumor cell expression of erythropoietin (EPO) and erythropoietin-receptor (EPO-R) and ten additional factors (age, gender, performance status, tumor length, tumor stage (T-stage), nodes (N-stage), histology/grading, hemoglobin levels during radiotherapy, surgery) on survival and loco-regional control was evaluated up to 10 years following radio-chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On multivariate analysis, improved survival was associated with low EPO-R expression (p=0.034) and hemoglobin levels during radiotherapy ≥ 12 g/dl (p=0.026). Low EPO expression was associated with survival on univariate (p=0.010) but not on multivariate analysis (p=0.42). On multivariate analysis, improved loco-regional control was significantly associated with hemoglobin levels during radiotherapy ≥ 12 g/dl (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The long-term results confirm that hemoglobin levels during radiotherapy and tumor cell expression of EPO-R are significant prognostic factors in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer.
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany Rades.Dirk@gmx.net.
authors: Dirk
authors: D
authors: Rades
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Amira
authors: A
authors: Bajrovic
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ, U.S.A.
authors: Steven E
authors: SE
authors: Schild
authors: Institute of Pathology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
authors: Christoph
authors: C
authors: Thorns
authors: Institute of Pathology, Charite Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Ergin
authors: E
authors: Kilic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000032:analysis; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D017467:Receptors, Erythropoietin / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D017467:Receptors, Erythropoietin; D004921:Erythropoietin; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: EPO expression; EPO-R expression; Stage III esophageal cancer; long-term results; prognostic factors; radio-chemotherapy