Review for 10.1186/s12876-020-01464-z (2020)

Reviewer’ s report
Title: Establishment of prognostic nomogram for elderly colorectal cancer patients: a SEER
database analysis
Version: 0Date: 04 Aug 2020
Reviewer's report:
This manuscript aims to study nomogram models of overall survival and cancer-specific survival
in elderly colorectal cancer. To establish this model, the authors investigated 44761 cases and usehalf as training set and half as validation set. Although this study is an interesting research topic,the manuscript does need minor improvements.1.All abbreviation need defined at the first time. For instance, what does AJCC TNM abbreviatedfor?2.Regarding baseline demographic characteristics, how about the family records of those elderlypatients with CRC?3.For data visualization, the authors could consider increasing font size and points size, such as theones in figure4 and figure5.4.What is the algorithm/equation or any programing code/script behind this model?
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YesDeclaration of competing interests
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Is the study design appropriate to answer the research question (including the use of appropriate
controls), and are the conclusions supported by the evidence presented?
YesAre the methods sufficiently described to allow the study to be repeated?NoIs the use of statistics and treatment of uncertainties appropriate?YesIs the presentation of the work clear?
Yes
Are the images in this manuscript (including electrophoretic gels and blots) free from apparent
manipulation?
No