[Prognostic factors in operable epidermoid esophageal cancers].

Objective: The aims of the study were to determine the prognostic factors on overall survival in patients with resectable squamous cell esophageal carcinoma.

Population: Two hundred and ninety three patients with stage I and II tumor were included in a phase III clinical trial that compared surgery alone to preoperative chemoirradiation. Eighteen parameters issued from clinical, biological radiological and pathological characteristics were included in univariate and multivariate analysis.

Results: The overall survival was influenced by: quality of surgical resection tumor response, nodal involvement on the CT-scan, tumor length and tumor location. Three groups of patients could be identified on two simple clinical preoperative variables. The first group: patients without dysphagia with or without nodal involvement on the CT-scan. The second group: patients with dysphagia and without nodal involvement on the CT-scan. The third group: patients with dysphagia and with nodal involvement with CT-scan. The 5 years survival rates were 34% for the first group, 23% for the second group and 0% for the third group.

Conclusion: The identification of prognostic factors is valuable for the stratification of patients in future therapeutic studies.