Improved ypStage Grouping System for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients

A revised ypStage grouping system was proposed for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery. The new system adequately addressed the limitations of the existing American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) system, showing improved prognostic relevance and higher discrimination ability. The study cohort included 501 patients in the development cohort and 422 patients in the validation cohort. The new ypStage grouping system provides clearer stratification and better predicts survival outcomes for these patients.