Tan Z, et al. - In this retrospective analysis, researchers investigated clinical factors related to a pathologically complete response (pCR) or near pCR following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), given a pCR or near pCR to NCRT might imply a better prognosis in these patients. Participants were a total of 40 patients with radical esophagectomy after NCRT for ESCC from January 2001 to December 2006 in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center. Patients were divided into pCR or near pCR (good responders, GRs) and poor responders (PR) based on histology. Good tumor grade was identified as an independent significant factor for the GR to NCRT. In those who had radical esophagectomy after NCRT, the identified independent factors were weight loss, drinking status and GR. GR could improve overall survival of ESCC patients receiving NCRT.