The prognostic significance of weight loss and its integration in stage-grouping of oesophageal cancer

Abstract

166 patients suffering from oesophageal cancer were subdivided into two groups with respect to weight loss. Survival of patients with less than or equal to 10% weight loss was significantly longer than in patients with greater 10% weight loss. Within the group with less than or equal 10% weight loss, patients in initial poor physical condition who improved on parenteral nutrition did as well as those in a spontaneously good condition. 159 could be stage-grouped according to the UICC classification. This classification did not give a clear-cut stratification with respect to survival. If the patients were reclassified into three stages in a system combining UICC stages with degree of weight loss, significant differences in survival between the individual stages could be obtained. It is recommended that the degree of weight loss is integrated in the stage-grouping of oesophageal cancer.