PONE-D-23-34928A Retrospective Cohort Study to Observe the Efficacy and Safety of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD) with Additional Radiotherapy for T1a-MM/T1b-SM Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma(ESCC)PLOS ONE

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: No

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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5. Review Comments to the Author

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Reviewer #1: Though it is a retrospective study, still some questions are there to find out.

1. It will remain a question to authors why radiotherapy is used in case of T1a-MM without LVSI.

2. What is craniocaudal margin used in radiotherapy portal.

3. Grades of Radiotherapy toxicity (Grade 1,2,3) data will be interesting to know.

Reviewer #2: 1. Its better to replace word "additional" with "Adjuvant" in Title and elsewhere

2. Abstract- line 25, replace received with underwent.

3. Introduction

a. Rewrite 45-48 line as your data do not match with reference

b. Reference 10, may not exactly show LN mets incidence cause its done as salvage so may not be appropriate reference here

c. Rewrite sentence 61-63

d. In Radiotherapy section, in line 128, was Left Anterior descending artery contour as OAR? It is considered most important OAR in heart.

e. Dose of Radiotherapy have differed significantly (41.4 Gy vs 50.4Gy). how was dose decided?

f. In follow up section, How frequently was CT scan done?

g. In result section, complication should be reported based on grade rather than using word like mild.

h. In discussion section, since it is retrospective study of small sample rather than comparing RT vs Non RT group, it is better for author to conclude that adjuvant RT is safe and effective with good results

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Reviewer #1: Yes: ABHIJIT DAS MD. DNB

Reviewer #2: Yes: Dr Simit SApkota

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A Retrospective Cohort Study to Observe the Efficacy and Safety of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD) with Adjuvant Radiotherapy for T1a-MM/T1b-SM Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC)

PONE-D-23-34928R1

Dear Dr. Xuesong Zhang

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

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Kind regards,

Paolo Aurello

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE