Prognostic factor for recurrence in esophagus cancer patients who underwent surgery for curative intent: A single-institution analysis

Objective: The purpose of this study is to analyze predisposing factors for a higher risk of recurrence in esophageal cancer patient who underwent surgery for curative intent and to do survival analysis of prognostic factors. Materials and Methods: Between February 2018 and March 2020, we retrospectively identified 28 cases staged T1b to T4a managed electively at our institute as per multidisciplinary management plan. Demographic, clinical, radiological, operative, histopathological parameters, upfront surgery done or not, type of preoperative, and adjuvant treatment used and whether neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy was planned along with waiting time for surgery, were assessed as potential risk factors. End point of study was to find potential risk factors for recurrence and to do their subgroup survival analysis. Results: The recurrence rate in our study was 25% with a mean follow-up of 24 months. The median time of recurrence was 8.5 months, all recurrence occurred within 1 year. Overall DFS at 2 years was 72%. On univariate analysis, following prognostic factors were associated with high risk of recurrence, male sex X-2 (1) = 4.42, p = 0.035; histology subtype of adenocarcinoma X-2 (1) = 7.07, p = 0.008; margin positive X-2 (1) = 3.76, p = 0.05; presence of lymph vascular invasion (LVI) X-2 (1) =7.88, p = 0.005; presence of perineural invasion (PNI) X-2 (1) =5.97, p = 0.015; postoperative T size >4 cm X-2 (1) = 3.86, p = 0.049; and nodal positivity X-2 (3) =13.47, p = 0.004. Conclusions: Male sex, adenocarcinoma histological subtype, positive resected margin, presence of LVI and PNI, postoperative T size >4 cm, and high postoperative nodal positivity and whether neoadjuvant versus adjuvant therapy given (on K. M analysis) were the identified predictors of recurrence which compromised DFS.