Treatment outcomes and immuno-nutritional biomarkers in patients with cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated with induction chemotherapy

Abstract Background Cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma arises below the upper esophageal sphincter, often causing dysphagia due to tumor progression. Therefore, some patients with cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma become malnourished. Due to its low incidence, limited information is available on prognostic immune-nutritional biomarkers. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 47 patients with resectable cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent induction chemotherapy. Prognostic biomarkers were selected based on their 5-year area under the curve values. The association between the biomarkers and disease-free survival or overall survival was evaluated in univariable and multivariable analyses. Results The C-reactive protein-albumin-lymphocyte index and high-sensitivity modified Glasgow prognostic score were significantly associated with the induction chemotherapy response. Both the C-reactive protein-albumin-lymphocyte index and the high-sensitivity modified Glasgow prognostic score were significantly associated with disease-free survival and overall survival in univariable analysis. C-reactive protein-albumin-lymphocyte indices were significantly associated with disease-free survival and overall survival in multivariable analysis. Conclusion The C-reactive protein-albumin-lymphocyte index is a useful prognostic treatment outcome biomarker in patients with cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma undergoing induction chemotherapy.