Proposed revision of N categories to the 8th edition AJCC ‐TNM staging system for non‐surgical esophageal squamous cell cancer

This study aimed to propose a revisi on to the N categories of the 8th edition AJCC‐TNM staging system that is easier to perform and better represents the prognosis of non‐surgical esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC). We retrospectively reviewed the data of 336 patients with ESCC. The revised N categories were based on the anato mic regions of LN metastasis (cervix, thorax, and abdomen). Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan‐Meier method and compared using the log‐rank test. Multivariate analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazard model. Survival differences were adequately discriminated when the revised N categories were used. Subgroup analyses by T stage showed significant difference in overall survival between the revised N categories. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that T stage, revised N category, age, sex, and treatment modality were independent risk factors, with the revised N category be ing the most significant variable. The revised N categories determined in this study can be used to fill gaps in the staging system for patients with non‐surgical ESCC, which can help clinicians to make better treatment decisions and more effectively predict patient prognoses. Future large‐scale studies are required to validate these results.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Source: Cancer Science - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research