Review for 10.1186/s12876-021-01636-5 (2021)

Reviewer’s report
Title: 
A prognostic model for stratification of stage IB/IIA esophageal squamous
cell carcinoma: a retrospective study
Version: 
0 
Date: 
19 Aug 2020
Reviewer's report:
The authors concluded that the prognostic score developed by themselves can
stratify stage IB/IIA ESCC to screen out subgroups with poor prognosis. Though
the number of included patients seems adequate and statistics seems right, there
are some points to be clarified or corrected before publication. 
Major points
The 8th edition of AJCC TNM classification defines stage IB as T1bN0 and
stage IIA as T2N0. However, Table 3 indicates that there are patients with T3.
The authors should explain why this contradiction happens.
Since surgery is the only modality to treat this cohort of patients, the authors
should describe the surgical procedures in more detail including the extent of
lymph node dissection (ex. whether to have dissected recurrent nerve lymph
nodes or not).
The authors should propose recommended follow-up management and
monitoring for patients with high-risk patients with stage IB/IIA.
How to randomize training cohort and validation cohort should be described in
the Methods section.
Minor points
Percentage of high level of PD-L1 expression in the training cohort should be
corrected as in the Table 2 (Page 7, Line 8).
The staining intensity and extent of the pictures in Figure 2 which was defined
in the Methods section should be added in the Figure Legend.
In Table 3, the authors should indicate which is the denominator of the HR so
that the reader can easily understand.
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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?
Yes
Are the methods sufficiently described to allow the study to be repeated?
No
Is the use of statistics and treatment of uncertainties appropriate?
Yes
Is the presentation of the work clear?
Yes
Are the images in this manuscript (including electrophoretic gels and blots) free
from apparent manipulation?
Yes