Number of lymph node metastases influences survival in patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma: therapeutic value of radiation treatment for recurrence

Abstract

We retrospectively investigated whether the number of involved lymph nodes and the radiation therapy for recurrence affect survival in patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma. Eighty-nine patients underwent surgical resection and reconstruction for thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma beyond the mucosal layer. Patients were classified into three groups: group 1 comprised 40 patients without lymph node involvement; group 2 comprised 34 patients with 1-3 positive nodes; and group 3 comprised 15 patients with > or = 4 involved lymph nodes. The 3-year and 5-year survival rates were 77.5% and 73.2% respectively in group 1, 64.8% and 55.8% respectively in group 2, and 28.1% and 0% respectively in group 3. The mean survival time (MST) mean +/- SD of the patients in group 3 (772.1 +/- 146.2 days) was significantly shorter than that of patients in group 1 (3728.5 +/- 320.7 days, p < 0.0001) and group 2 (2330.4 +/- 344.3 days, p = 0.0130). The MST of the patients in group 2 was also significantly shorter than that of patients in group 1 (p = 0.0366). Patients with recurrent lymph nodes that were localized were treated effectively with radiation therapy. We conclude that the number of lymph node metastases influences survival in thoracic esophageal cancer. Early detection as well as radiation therapy for recurrent lymph node metastases is effective in improving long-term survival.

Expression of MUC1 in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma and its relationship with prognosis of patients from Linzhou city, a high incidence area of northern China

“…MUC1 expressed in tumors may function as an anti-adhesion molecule, which inhibits cell-cell adhesion, inducing a release of cells from tumor nests. Thus, MUC1 expression may be related to invasion or metastasis of carcinoma cells [17][18][19] . MUC1 can down-regulate the expression of E-cadherin, which is a calcium-dependent adhesion molecule, functioning in the cellcell adhesion, while the low-expression of E-cadherin increased the invading ability of tumor cells [20][21][22] .…”

MicroRNA-141 confers resistance to cisplatin-induced apoptosis by targeting YAP1 in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

“…18 In spite of comprehensive available treatment, including chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy, the overall 5-year survival rate for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), the most common form of esophageal cancer, remains low, at 10-40%, because of advanced disease, metastasis and resistance of the tumor to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. [19][20][21] Cisplatin is the most frequently used chemotherapeutic agent for ESCC. However, given that resistance to cisplatin limits the success of treatment, elucidation of the mechanisms that regulate cisplatin resistance in ESCC is urgently needed.…”

Upregulated long non-coding RNA SBF2-AS1 promotes proliferation in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

“…Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and esopha geal adenocarcinoma (EA) are the primary subtypes of EC; however, in China, ESCC accounts for >90% of total cases (3). Despite improved development of multimodal techniques including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the survival rate of patients with ESCC remains poor owing to the high incidence of local invasion and distant metastasis (3,4). Therefore, it is imperative to seek novel therapeutic targets and effective biomarkers for ESCC.…”