title: The outcomes of radiotherapy and factors that predict overall survival in elderly patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate radiotherapy in terms of both feasibility and efficacy for the treatment of 206 elderly patients (≥70 years) with unresectable ESCC and to investigate the factors that predict overall survival in those patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally, 206 elderly patients with esophageal cancer (≥70 years) treated with RT for ESCC in the Harbin Medical University Affiliated Tumor Hospital were retrospectively enrolled. Radiation treatment results and side effects were evaluated. Survival data were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, including OS, RFS and DDFS. A multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to determine the relevant prognostic factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median OS and RFS were 20.68 and 24.19 months. Metastases before radiotherapy, having cervical or supraclavicular neoplasm, with lesion length >5 cm were the independent risk factors for OS. The total effective rate was 86.9% (179/206).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiation therapy in elderly patients (≥70 years) can not only obtain good treatment result, but also make patients have better tolerance and reduce the risk of complications. Radiotherapy should be as a primary treatment option for elderly patients with inoperable ESCC.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Division, Harbin Medical University Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Division, Harbin Medical University Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China. emingyan0996@163.com.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: E
authors.affiliation: Breast Surgery Ward Three, Harbin Medical University Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Division, Harbin Medical University Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Cox regression analysis; Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Prognostic factors; Radiotherapy