Survival prognostic factors in patients with esophageal cancer registered in Fars cancer registry center

esophageal cancer is the 6th most common cancer in Iran. Prognosis in these patients is poor. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic factors that might affect survival of patients with esophageal cancer. All patients with esophageal cancer who were registered in Fars cancer registry between 2001 and 2005 were evaluated. They were followed from their diagnostic date until March 20, 2005 (as failure time). Prognostic factors were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier (univariate method) and Cox regression model (multivariate method). Of 161 patients, 99 cases (61.5%) were male. The mean and median survival time was 21.46 and 12 months, respectively. According to the Kaplan-Meier method, variables such as marital status, male's and female's occupation, smoking and type of first treatment were determined as the factors which influence overall survival times of patients. Also, three variables of age at diagnosis, grade of tumor and type of first treatment were identified as independent prognostic factors for survival as determined by Cox regression model. Age at diagnosis and grade of tumor should be considered as the most important prognostic factors in esophageal cancer and early treatment should be considered in order to increase survival time of these patients.