Favorable Management of Repeated Serous Retinal Detachment with Continued Tumor Response in a Patient with Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma during Treatment with Pemigatinib.

Pemigatinib is a fibroblast growth factor receptor inhibitor (FGFRi) approved for the treatment of patients with previously treated biliary tract cancer with FGFR2 fusion. Although infrequent, ocular toxicity manifested as serous retinal detachment (SRD) has been observed and is regarded as a serious side effect. We herein report the case of a 54-year-old woman with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma-initiated pemigatinib after failure of gemcitabine plus S-1 (GS). Although the patient experienced repeated SRD after pemigatinib, dose interruption and dose reduction of pemigatinib from 13.5 mg to 9 mg, and from 9 mg to 4.5 mg led to complete recovery of SRD, and continued tumor shrinkage.

Traditional Japanese herbal medicine rikkunshito increases food intake and plasma acylated ghrelin levels in patients with esophageal cancer treated by cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Cisplatin (CDDP) is an important chemotherapeutic drug for treating esophageal cancer that often induces nausea and vomiting. Rikkunshito (RKT), a traditional Japanese herbal medicine, can increase levels of plasma ghrelin, which is an orexigenic gut hormone that can alleviate chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) and anorexia. METHODS: This prospective randomized crossover study included 20 patients with esophageal cancer who were administered with CDDP-based chemotherapy. Ten of them were assigned to group A [1st course: with RKT 7.5 g/day on days 1-14; 2nd course: without RKT (control)] and 10 were assigned to group B [1st course: without RKT (control); 2nd course: with RKT 7.5 g/day on days 22-35]. Food intake and levels of plasma acylated ghrelin (AG) were compared between the control and RKT courses. RESULTS: Data from 18 patients were included in this analysis, as chemotherapy was immediately stopped due to deteriorating renal function in one patient and intracerebral bleeding in another. The median rate at which food intake decreased between days 4 and 6 was considerably lower in the course with, than without RKT (2% vs. 30%; P=0.02). Median levels of AG significantly increased from days 3 to 8 in patients in both courses with and without RKT (9.6 to 15.7 fmol/mL, P<0.0001; control, 10.2 to 17.8, P=0.0002). The rate at which median plasma AG levels increased from days 3 to 8 tend to be higher in the RKT, than in the control course (68% vs. 48%, P=0.08). CONCLUSIONS: RKT can improve CDDP-induced, delayed-onset anorexia and increase plasma AG levels among patients with esophageal cancer who undergo highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC).

Guanylate binding protein 1 (GBP-1) promotes cell motility and invasiveness of lung adenocarcinoma.

Previously, we identified molecules involved in human invasive lung adenocarcinoma, and guanylate-binding protein 1 (GBP-1) was selected for further analysis. RT-PCR of normal lung and invasive lung adenocarcinoma tissue samples showed that the relative GBP-1 expression levels normalized to GAPDH for invasive lung adenocarcinoma were three-fold higher than those for normal lung samples (P < 0.05). GBP-1 gene and protein expression levels were also higher in mesenchymal-like than in epithelial-like lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. To determine whether GBP-1 participates in lung adenocarcinoma invasion, we performed migration and wound healing assays using RERF-LC-OK cells transfected with various siRNAs. The relative migration of transfected GBP1-siRNA1 and GBP1-siRNA2 cells was significantly lower than that of transfected control-siRNA cells. The relative wound healing capacities 6 and 12 h after cells transfected with GBP1-siRNA1 and GBP1-siRNA2 were scratched were significantly lower than those of the control-siRNA cells. Immunohistochemistry of 80 patients with Stage I lung adenocarcinoma revealed that non-invasive cells were GBP-1 negative in all cases. Invasive cells were GBP-1 positive in 10 cases (12.5%) and GBP-1 negative in 70 cases (87.5%). Lymphatic-vascular invasion was positive in 20 patients (25%) and positively correlated with GBP-1 expression (P < 0.05). In conclusion, GBP-1 may enhance lung adenocarcinoma invasiveness by promoting cell motility, and control of GBP-1 expression has the potential to contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies for lung adenocarcinoma.

Impact of Interval Between Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation and Surgery Upon Morbidity and Survival of Patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Thoracic Esophagus.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The present study aimed to determine the effects of intervals between neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and esophagectomy on therapeutic outcomes in patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed data from 134 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with locally advanced ESCC of the thoracic esophagus and were treated by nCRT followed by esophagectomy between September 2003 and September 2015. We assigned the patients to groups A and B according to whether they underwent esophagectomy ≤8 or >8 weeks after nCRT. RESULTS: The two groups were comparable in terms of age, gender, performance status, comorbidities, tumor location, clinical stage, R0 resection rates and pathological responses to nCRT. The incidences of pneumonia and respiratory failure were significantly higher in group B (p=0.03, p=0.009, respectively). Recurrence-free (RFS) and overall (OS) survival rates did not significantly differ between the two groups. However, RFS was significantly poorer among patients with R0 resection (p=0.04) and those of cStages III and IV (p=0.009) in group B. CONCLUSION: Esophagectomy should proceed within eight weeks after nCRT from the viewpoints of respiratory morbidity and impact of RFS on patients with R0 resection.

Preoperative prediction of a pathologic complete response of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The accurate prediction of a pathologic complete response (ypT0N0M [LYM] 0 ypStage 0) before operation is essential for selecting appropriate strategies for treating esophageal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. METHODS: We reviewed 130 consecutive patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who were evaluated preoperatively using upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, computed tomography, and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and subsequently underwent esophagectomy. Our aim was to determine the diagnostic abilities of computed tomography, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography, and endoscopy to predict preoperatively a pathologic complete response of the primary site of the locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and associated lymph nodes to trimodal neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Associations between clinical complete response (ycT0N0M [LYM] 0 ycStage 0) and pathologic complete response were investigated preoperatively. RESULTS: Twenty-nine (22.3%) and 43 (33.1%) patients, respectively, achieved clinical complete response and pathologic complete response, which were associated (P=.001). The sensitivity and specificity, as well as the positive and negative predictive values of clinical complete response to define pathologic complete response were 39.5%, 86.2%, 58.6%, and 74.3%, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses selected clinical complete response as the sole independent preoperative predictor of pathologic complete response (clinical complete responses versus non-clinical complete responses: odds ratio: 0.26, 95% confidence interval, 0.10-0.65, P=.004). Recurrence-free and overall survival (OS) rates were better in patients with than in those without clinical complete response (5-year recurrence-free and overall survival: 69.0% vs 41.4% and 75.9% vs 45.0%, respectively, both P=.02). Furthermore, clinical complete response was an independent preoperative predictor of recurrence-free survival (clinical complete response versus nonclinical complete response: hazard ratio: 2.20, 95% confidence interval, 1.08-4.45, P=.03). CONCLUSION: Although pathologic complete response was predictable preoperatively to some extent, the accuracy was somewhat low. Considerable caution should be exercised when selecting the watch-and-wait approach with operation as needed and omitting planned operative intervention even for patients who achieve clinical complete response after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Evaluation of Prognostic Factors for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Intensive trimodality therapy is needed for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, some patients develop recurrence and die of cancer even after trimodality therapy. METHODS: We evaluated prognostic factors based on data from 125 patients with ESCC who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) comprising concurrent chemotherapy and 40 Gy of radiation, followed by curative-intent esophagectomy. RESULTS: Thirty-four (27.2%) patients achieved a pathological complete response (pCR) after NCRT. The 5-year recurrence-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS) rates of all patients were 49.2 and 52.9%, respectively, and were significantly better for patients with pCR than without pCR (p = 0.01 and 0.02, respectively). Univariate and multivariate analyses selected performance status [PS 0 vs. 1: hazard ratio (HR) 2.05; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.30-4.84; p = 0.01] and ypN (0 vs. 1: HR 2.33; 95% CI 1.12-4.84; p = 0.02; 0 vs. 2/3: HR 3.73; 95% CI 1.68-8.28; p = 0.001) as independent covariates for RFS. Furthermore, PS (0 vs. 1; HR 2.94; 95% CI 1.51-5.72; p = 0.002) and ypN (0 vs. 1; HR 2.26; 95% CI 1.09-4.69; p = 0.03; 0 vs. 2/3: HR 3.90; 95% CI 1.79-8.48; p = 0.001) were also independent covariates for OS. CONCLUSIONS: Performance status 1 and ypN+ were significantly associated with a poor prognosis after trimodality therapy for ESCC.

Treatment Outcomes and Prognostic Factors After Recurrence of Esophageal Squamous Cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The evaluation of treatment outcomes and detection of prognostic factors after recurrence are very important for tailoring optimal therapies for individual patients with recurrent esophageal cancer. METHODS: We reviewed 133 patients in whom esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) recurred after curative surgery, and assessed recurrence patterns, treatment outcomes and prognostic factors. RESULTS: Recurrence in 57 (42.9%), 54 (40.6%) and 22 (16.5%) patients was locoregional, distant and combined, respectively. The median amounts of elapsed time until recurrence and median survival after recurrence for all patients were 9.1 and 8.3 months, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses selected time to recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.97-0.999; p = 0.04), recurrence location (locoregional vs. distant: HR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.03-2.61; p = 0.04), number of organs with recurrence (1 vs. 3: HR, 3.49; 95% CI, 1.23-9.87; p = 0.02) and treatment after recurrence (best supportive care, [BSC] vs. chemotherapy [CT] or radiation therapy [RT]: HR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.15-0.94; p = 0.04; BSC vs. CT and RT: HR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.26-0.94; p = 0.03; BSC vs. surgery: HR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.25-0.88; p = 0.02) as independent factors for survival after recurrence. Seventeen (12.8%) patients who had localized lymph node recurrence and lung oligometastasis and received multidisciplinary therapy after recurrence survived for >3 years thereafter. CONCLUSION: Despite the poor survival of patients with ESCC and early or distant recurrence or recurrence in ≥3 recurrent organs, appropriate multimodal therapies should be tailored for individual patients with recurrent ESCC.

Effects of Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy on Pathological TNM Stage and Their Prognostic Significance for Surgically-treated Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The TNM staging system for esophageal cancer is designed to predict survival based on pathological stage in patients who have been treated with surgery alone. However, pathological stage can vary considerably after neoadjuvant therapy due to tumor responses. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed 110 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by surgery, and investigated the effects of nCRT on TNM stage and its prognostic significance. RESULTS: A comparison of pre-treatment clinical and pathological stages (cStage and ypStage, respectively) resulted in 75 (68%) of the patients being down-staged. Good responders (over two-thirds of the primary tumor reduced by nCRT) comprised 100%, 83%, 69%, 52% and 50% of patients with ypStages 0, I, II, III and IV, respectively (p=0.001). In addition, 62 (83%) and 20 (57%) of patients with and without down-staged tumors, respectively, were pathological good responders (p=0.004). We found that cStage did not significantly correlate with survival, whereas univariate analysis significantly associated ypStages III/IV (p=0.003) and down-staged tumors (p=0.04) with overall survival (OS). Multivariate analysis selected ypStage III/IV (HR=3.26; 95% CI=1.52-6.99; p=0.002) and no down-staging (HR=2.06; 95%CI=1.16-3.64, p=0.01) as independent covariates for OS. CONCLUSION: nCRT could lead to down-staged ESCC tumors for many patients and a good prognosis. The correlation between ypStage and pathological response to nCRT indicated that ypStage could stratify survival and serve as a prognostic predictor after trimodal therapy.

Splenic hamartoma associated with thrombocytopenia: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Hamartomas are rare, benign tumors of the spleen. Few cases of splenic hamartomas associated with thrombocytopenia have been reported. PRESENTATION OF CASE: An asymptomatic 64-year-old man with myelodysplastic syndrome was found to have a splenic tumor. Laboratory tests were significant for thrombocytopenia, with a platelet count of 7.8×104/µL. Ultrasonography showed splenomegaly (10.8×6.6cm), and a hypoechoic splenic mass (8.0×7.0cm). Color doppler ultrasound revealed blood flow within the mass, and the mass density was homogeneous on abdominal computed tomography (CT). Contrast-enhanced CT showed heterogeneous enhancement of the splenic mass during the arterial phase. Positron emission tomography (PET)-CT showed no significant fludeoxyglucose (FDG) accumulation within the mass. The differential diagnosis included splenic hamartoma, splenic hemangioma, splenomegaly associated with extramedullary hematopoiesis, and malignant tumor, including solitary splenic metastasis. A laparoscopic splenectomy was performed due to the possibility of malignancy, the presence of thrombocytopenia, and the risk of splenic rupture. The resected specimen showed a localized, well-demarcated, 8.0×7.0cm splenic mass. Histological examination revealed abnormal red pulp proliferation and the absence of normal splenic structures. The patient's post-operative course was uneventful. His platelet count improved on post-operative day 1 and he was discharged on post-operative day 9. He remained in good health with a normal platelet count one month after surgery. DISCUSSION: Making definitive preoperative diagnosis is difficult in splenic hamartomas. Surgery is necessary for diagnosis when malignancy cannot be ruled out. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery may also improve symptoms of hypersplenism, including thrombocytopenia.

Role of Postoperative C-Reactive Protein Levels in Predicting Prognosis After Surgical Treatment of Esophageal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Elevated preoperative serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are reportedly associated with a poor prognosis for patients with various types of malignant tumors. However, the impact of postoperative CRP levels on the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer remains unknown. The present study aims to clarify the prognostic significance of postoperative CRP levels on the survival of patients with esophageal cancer. METHODS: We reviewed the records of consecutive 202 patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent transthoracic esophagectomy. We measured serum CRP levels on postoperative days (PODs) 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 and evaluated the relationships between postoperative CRP levels and survival. RESULTS: The findings of Cox regression analyses suggested that elevated CRP levels on POD 3, 5 and 7 were associated with poor recurrence-free survival (RFS). We divided CRP levels on POD 7 into three tertiles and found that RFS could be clearly stratified, being the poorest (p < 0.001) in the highest tertile (high CRP). The trend was similar even in patients with or without infectious complications and with or without advanced pathological stage. Multivariate analysis showed that pathologically advanced stage (Hazard ratio [HR], 5.14; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.67-9.87; p < 0.001) and high CRP (HR, 2.27; 95% CI 1.3-3.96; p = 0.004) were independent predictors of RFS. CONCLUSION: Postoperative CRP levels could predict the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer. We propose that the clinical course of postoperative CRP level should be carefully monitored as a predictor of survival.

[Abdominoperineal Resection for Anal Metastasis of Rectal Cancer].

Anal metastasis of colorectal cancer is rare, and no standardized effective therapeutic strategy exists. We report a case of abdominoperineal resection for anal metastasis of rectal cancer. A 65-year-old man underwent laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal cancer in August 2013. Histopathological examination revealed a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma( tub2, pSS, ly3, v2, pN1, H0, P0, M0, Stage III a, Cur A). In February 2015, he complained of anal discomfort, and tumor markers were elevated. Enhanced CT revealed a 15-mm high-density solid tumor in the anal canal. The results of needle biopsy indicated a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. This tumor was suspected to be metastasis from rectal cancer, and we performed abdominoperineal resection. Histopathological examination revealed a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, which was the same histological type as the primary rectal cancer and was covered with normal anal epithelium. Collectively, the findings indicated anal metastasis from rectal cancer. The patient is alive without recurrence for 18 months after resection. Anal metastasis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients with anal discomfort who have a history of colon/rectal cancer. Abdominoperineal resection may be an effective treatment modality for this condition.

Ability of Fluorine-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography to Predict Outcomes of Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Surgical Treatment for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Responses of esophageal cancer to neoadjuvant therapy and patient prognosis are difficult to predict preoperatively. This study aimed to determine the ability of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)FDG) positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) to predict outcomes of trimodal therapy on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). METHODS: The responses of 111 patients with ESCC were monitored using FDG-PET before and after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by surgical treatment. Associations between the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and pathologic responses (PRs) and prognosis were analyzed. RESULTS: Responses were significantly associated with SUVmax after nCRT (post-SUVmax) and with the rate of decreases in the SUVmax (%ΔSUVmax) of the primary tumor. The optimal cutoffs for post-SUVmax and %ΔSUVmax determined from receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were 2.7 (area under the curve [AUC], 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.58-0.78; p = 0.001) and 75 (AUC, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.54-0.75; p = 0.01) for predicting a pathologic complete response (pCR) and 3.7 (AUC, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.63-0.89; p < 0.001) and 70 (AUC, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.52-0.78; p = 0.02) for predicting a good response according to Japan Esophageal Society response criteria. These values reliably separated patients into groups with and without pCR and with and without a good response. Multivariate analysis showed that %ΔSUVmax (≤70 and >70) was an independent prognostic factor for disease-specific survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.45; 95% CI, 0.21-0.98; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: SUVmax is a valuable preoperative predictor of tumor response and survival among patients who undergo trimodal therapy for ESCC.

Surgical Resection of Thoracic Esophageal Cancer with Interstitial Lung Disease: A Case Report.

Patients with esophageal cancer often have various comorbidities, and these sometimes limit treatment choices. We describe a patient with stage IA esophageal cancer accompanied by interstitial lung disease (ILD). Endoscopic resection and radiotherapy were not appropriate because of clinically diagnosed submucosal invasion and the patient was at high risk of ILD exacerbation. We therefore selected transhiatal esophagectomy without a thoracotomy considering the risk of postoperative respiratory complications, and administered methylprednisolone and sivelestat in the perioperative period for the reduction of surgical stress. To our knowledge, this is the first report of surgical treatment for esophageal cancer with ILD. The patient was discharged without postoperative complications. Transhiatal esophagectomy is an appropriate choice for patients with early-stage esophageal cancer without lymph node metastasis who are at high risk for postoperative respiratory complications. The appropriate selection of treatment is important for patients with esophageal cancer considering the risk of complications.

Clinical Significance of FDG-PET to Predict Pathologic Tumor Invasion and Lymph Node Metastasis of Superficial Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To determine the preoperative ability of [18F]-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) to predict pathologic tumor invasion and lymph node status in cT1N0M0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 40 consecutive patients diagnosed with cT1N0M0 ESCC between February 2006 and April 2011. All patients were treated by esophagectomy with two- or three-field lymphadenectomy without neoadjuvant therapy. We evaluated the relevance between clinical variables including maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) of the primary tumor on FDG-PET and pathologic tumor invasion and lymph node status using a logistic regression model. RESULTS: Tumors invaded the middle submucosal layer (SM2) and beyond in 21 (52.5 %) patients, and 6 (15 %) had lymph node metastases. The areas under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for SUVmax of the primary tumor used to predict factors involved in tumor infiltration to SM2 or deeper and lymph node metastasis were 0.75 (p = 0.006) and 0.79 (p = 0.025), respectively. The optimal SUVmax cutoff was 2.7. The findings of univariate and multivariate analyses identified SUVmax as the only significant preoperative predictor associated with tumor infiltration into SM2 or beyond and lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, SUVmax ≥ 2.7 of the primary tumor on FDG-PET was associated with poor recurrence-free and disease-specific survival (p = 0.019 and p = 0.012, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: FDG-PET is helpful for diagnosing tumors that can infiltrate SM2 and beyond as well as occult lymph node metastasis of cT1N0M0 ESCC that are valuable indications in deciding therapeutic strategies for superficial ESCC.

Laparoscopic Repair and Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy to Treat Giant Esophageal Hiatal Hernia with Gastric Obstruction: A Case Report.

We describe a 74-year-old man with repeated aspiration pneumonia who developed gastric obstruction due to giant esophageal hiatal hernia (EHH). We repaired the giant EHH by laparoscopic surgery and subsequently anchored the stomach to the abdominal wall by percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) using gastrofiberscopy. Thereafter, the patient resumed oral intake and was discharged on postoperative day 21. At two years after these procedures, the patient has adequate oral intake and lives at home. Because this condition occurs more frequently in the elderly with comorbidities, laparoscopic surgery contributes to minimally invasive treatment. Furthermore, the procedure combined with concurrent gastropexy via PEG is useful for treating patients who have difficulty swallowing and for preventing recurrent hernia.

Hemoglobin level influences tumor response and survival after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by esophagectomy confers a survival benefit on patients with esophageal cancer. However, nCRT might be less meaningful for poor responders. Thus, being able to predict responses would help ensure the selection of optimal therapy. METHODS: We reviewed data from 123 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who underwent nCRT that comprised concurrent radiation (40 Gy) and chemotherapy followed by esophagectomy. We assessed associations between clinical and blood data obtained before starting nCRT and the pathologic response. RESULTS: We compared good (Japan Esophageal Society response evaluation criteria grades 3/2; n = 89, 72.4%) and poor (grades 1/0; n = 34, 27.6%) responders. Performance status (p = 0.02), hemoglobin level (p = 0.005), and platelet counts (p = 0.03) were statistically significant pretherapeutic factors for a response to nCRT. Multivariable analysis subsequently selected the hemoglobin level (odds ratio 1.52; 95% confidence interval 1.08-2.15; p = 0.02) as the sole independent predictor. Receiver operating characteristic curves showed that the optimal cutoff for pretherapeutic hemoglobin was 13 g/dl for predicting a response. We found that 48.8 and 17.1% of patients with hemoglobin level ≤13 and >13 g/dl, respectively, were poor responders (p = 0.0002), with 5-year overall survival rates of 40.9 and 58.9%, respectively (p = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: Pretherapeutic hemoglobin levels can influence responses and survival after nCRT for ESCC. Thus, hemoglobin levels can serve as a useful marker for tailoring optimal therapies for individual patients with advanced ESCC.