title: The ratio of hemoglobin to red cell distribution width as a novel prognostic parameter in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective study from southern China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We propose a novel prognostic parameter for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC)-hemoglobin/red cell distribution width (HB/RDW) ratio. Its clinical prognostic value and relationship with other clinicopathological characteristics were investigated in ESCC patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The optimal cut-off value was 0.989 for the HB/RDW ratio. The HB/RDW ratio (P= 0.035), tumor depth (P = 0.020) and lymph node status (P<0.001) were identified to be an independent prognostic factors of OS by multivariate analysis, which was validated by bootstrap resampling. Patients with a low HB/RDW ratio had a 1.416 times greater risk of dying during follow-up compared with those with a high HB/RDW (95% CI = 1.024-1.958, P = 0.035).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed 362 patients who underwent curative treatment at a single institution between January 2007 and December 2008. The chi-square test was used to evaluate relationships between the HB/RDW ratio and other clinicopathological variables; the Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the 5-year overall survival (OS); and the Cox proportional hazards models were used for univariate and multivariate analyses of variables related to OS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant association was found between the HB/RDW ratio and clinical characteristics and survival outcomes in ESCC patients. Based on these findings, we believe that the HB/RDW ratio is a novel and promising prognostic parameter for ESCC patients.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510060, P. R. China.|Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510060, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510060, P. R. China.|Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510060, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510080, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Cui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510060, P. R. China.|Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510060, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xiwen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510060, P. R. China.|Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510060, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Hang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510060, P. R. China.|Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510060, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510060, P. R. China.|Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510060, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Fenghua
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510060, P. R. China.|Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510060, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Wenqi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D002681:China; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D016629:Esophagectomy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins
keywords: esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC); hemoglobin; prognosis; red cell distribution width (RDW); survival