Table 1.

Tumor and patient characteristics at baseline.

Variable	Value	n	%
Gender	male	119	73.9
	female	42	26.1
Age	65-74 years	96	59.6
	75-84 years	59	36.7
	≥ 85 years	6	3.7
ECOG	0	58	36.0
	1	75	46.6
	2	28	17.4
Localization (distance from incisors)	Cervical (15 - 18 cm)	19	11.8
	Upper thoracic (18 - 24 cm)	42	26.1
	Middle thoracic (24 - 32 cm)	59	36.7
	Lower thoracic (32 - approximate 40 cm)	41	25.5
cT-stage	T1	6	3.7
	T2	19	11.8
	T3	101	62.7
	T4	33	20.5
	Tx	2	1.2
cN-stage	N0	40	24.8
	N+	119	73.9
	Nx	2	1.2
M-stage	M0	161	100.0
	M1	0	0
AJCC-stage	1	4	2.5
	2	39	24.2
	3	81	50.3
	4a	34	21.1
	NA	3	1.9
Grading	G1	3	1.9
	G2	92	57.1
	G3	48	29.8
	G4	0	0
	Gx	18	11.2
Charlson Comorbidity Index	≤ 5	64	39.8
	> 5	95	59.0
	NA	2	1.2

Staging of esophageal carcinomas was based on the versions of the TNM classification (Union for International Cancer Control [UICC]) and the clinical stages of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) that were current at the time of first diagnosis (i.e., 6^th, 7^th or 8^th edition of the UICC-AJCC TNM classification).

ECOG, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group; AJCC, American Joint Committee on Cancer.