Table 1 Summary of the multivariable hazard ratios and 95% CI for eligible biomarkers, organized according to the Hanahan-Weinberg functional capability

Angiogenesis

COX-2

Total(IHC)

6

469

2.00(1.47-2.71)

1.54(0.80-2.98)

75.0

ESCC

4

234

1.23(0.79-1.93)

0.96(0.39-2.41)

73.5

EADC

2

235

3.06(2.01-4.65)

3.06(2.01-4.65)

0.0

VEGF

Total

18

1476

1.80(1.51-2.14)

1.76(1.38-2.24)

43.5

ESCC

16

1329

1.85(1.55-2.21)

1.84(1.45-2.33)

38.4

EADC

1

38

0.37(0.10-1.40)

0.37(0.10-1.40)

-

EC

1

109

1.80(0.70-4.65)

1.80(0.70-4.65)

-

IHC

14

1109

1.59(1.28-1.98)

1.56(1.16-2.12)

43.6

ELISA

2

179

2.55(1.72-3.79)

2.67(1.57-4.54)

36.8

RTPCR

2

188

1.90(1.24-2.91)

1.90(1.24-2.91)

0.0

Evading apoptosis

survivin

Total

5

357

1.60(1.23-2.07)

1.90(1.06-3.40)

74.6

ESCC(IHC)

4

295

1.50(1.15-1.95)

1.57(0.91-2.69)

70.7

EC(PCR)

1

62

6.60(1.97-22.12)

6.60(1.97-22.12)

-

Insensitivity to antigrowth signal

p21

Total(IHC)

9

858

0.90(0.75-1.08)

1.27(0.75-2.16)

86.4

ESCC

7

683

0.90(0.74-1.09)

1.28(0.70-2.33)

87.4

EC

2

175

0.94(0.57-1.53)

1.31(0.22-7.98)

91.2

p27(-)

Total(IHC)

7

606

1.44(1.07-1.92)

1.68(0.90-3.12)

76.4

ESCC

6

478

1.75(1.25-2.44)

1.97(1.00-3.88)

74.6

EC

1

128

0.75(0.41-1.38)

0.75(0.41-1.38)

-

Limitless replicative potential

cyclin D1

Total

15

1931

1.65(1.41-1.93)

1.73(1.34-2.23)

56.3

ESCC

12

1295

1.82(1.50-2.20)

1.89(1.44-2.48)

46.2

EC

3

636

1.37(1.05-1.80)

1.18(0.57-2.45)

77.4

IHC

13

1735

1.60(1.36-1.88)

1.64(1.26-2.14)

57.9

PCR

2

196

2.62(1.41-4.89)

2.79(1.27-6.14)

18.5

HER-2

Total

6

1162

1.06(0.88-1.28)

1.37(0.91-2.07)

67.6

ESCC

1

66

0.92(0.35-2.41)

0.92(0.35-2.41)

-

EADC

3

291

2.15(1.39-3.33)

2.15(1.39-3.33)

0.0

EC

2

805

0.91(0.73-1.12)

0.93(0.70-1.23)

32.3

IHC

4

951

0.96(0.78-1.17)

1.17(0.72-1.88)

66.3

FISH

1

124

1.80(0.90-3.60)

1.80(0.90-3.60)

-

RPPA

1

87

1.97(1.01-3.83)

1.97(1.01-3.83)

-

Ki-67

Total(IHC)

5

424

0.84(0.59-1.20)

0.76(0.41-1.42)

62.2

ESCC

3

308

1.11(0.70-1.78)

1.11(0.70-1.78)

0.0

EADC

1

59

0.26(0.11-0.60)

0.26(0.11-0.60)

-

EC

1

57

1.03(0.49-2.17)

1.03(0.49-2.17)

-

P53

Total

31

2851

1.34(1.21-1.48)

1.33(1.14-1.56)

48.7

ESCC

20

2063

1.26(1.11-1.42)

1.25(1.03-1.51)

48.7

EADC

2

97

2.10(1.10-4.03)

2.10(1.10-4.03)

0.0

EC

9

691

1.53(1.25-1.86)

1.44(1.06-1.94)

50.9

IHC

22

2122

1.25(1.12-1.40)

1.20(1.02-1.40)

38.5

PCR-SSCP

5

383

1.75(1.24-2.49)

1.82(0.93-3.56)

70.5

ELISA

4

346

2.13(1.46-3.09)

2.13(1.46-3.09)

0.0

Tissue invasion and metastasis

E-cadherin(-)

Total

10

1569

1.13(1.06-1.21)

1.30(1.07-1.58)

61.8

ESCC

7

977

1.12(1.05-1.19)

1.24(0.99-1.56)

67.2

EADC

1

59

3.30(0.99-10.99)

3.30(0.99-10.99)

-

EC

2

533

1.41(1.05-1.89)

1.41(1.05-1.89)

0.0

IHC

9

1472

1.28(1.11-1.49)

1.39(1.08-1.80)

60.4

ELISA

1

97

1.10(1.02-1.18)

1.10(1.02-1.18)

-

Serum markers

SCC-Ag

Total(ESCC/EIA)

5

700

1.28(0.97-1.69)

1.28(0.93-1.76)

16.4

Total

8

1382

1.43(1.27-1.61)

2.65(1.64-4.27)

85.8

ESCC

3

260

2.05(1.33-3.17)

2.77(1.12-6.86)

68.4

EC

5

1122

1.39(1.23-1.57)

2.66(1.44-4.92)

90.1

LPIA

1

262

3.30(2.17-5.01)

3.30(2.17-5.01)

-

IHC

2

110

4.33(2.02-9.24)

4.33(2.02-9.24)

0.0

ELISA

1

150

1.42(0.83-2.42)

1.42(0.83-2.42)

-

CRP-kit

1

356

1.52(1.05-2.21)

1.52(1.05-2.21)

-

LEHIA

1

291

1.18(1.03-1.36)

1.18(1.03-1.36)

-

INA

1

123

12.12(3.45-42.57)

12.12(3.45-42.57)

-

ITA

1

90

5.07(1.92-13.41)

5.07(1.92-13.41)

-

Total

5

544

0.96(0.95-0.98)

0.91(0.83-1.00)

87.1

ESCC

2

351

0.54(0.40-0.74)

0.54(0.40-0.74)

0.0

EC

3

193

0.97(0.95-0.98)

0.96(0.89-1.03)

88.3