AIM: To study the differences in onset age and multiple primary cancers between familial and sporadic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC).METHODS: The differences in onset age and multiple primary cancers were analyzed between ESCC patients with(n = 766) and without(n = 1776) a family history of the cancer. The cases analyzed constituted all consecutive patients who had undergone cure-intent surgery at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the 4th Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 1 1975 to December 31 1989. Because we also originally aimed to examine the difference in survival time, only older subjects with a long follow-up period were selected.RESULTS: Overall, patients with ESCC and a positive family history of the cancer had a significantly younger age at onset and more multiple primary cancers than those without a positive family history(51.83 ± 8.39 vs 53.49 ± 8.23 years old, P = 0.000; 5.50% vs 1.70%, P = 0.000). Both of these differences were evident in subgroup analyses, however, no correlations were observed. While age at onset differed significantly by family history in males, smokers, and drinkers, the difference in multiple primary cancers by family history was significant in nonsmoking, nondrinking, and younger onset patients. In multivariate analysis, age over 50 years, tobacco smoking, and multiple primary cancers were found to be significant predictors of familial cancer: the corresponding OR(95%CI) and P-value were 0.974(0.963-0.985) and 0.000; 1.271(1.053-1.535) and 0.012; and 4.265(2.535-7.176) and 0.000, respectively.CONCLUSION: Patients with ESCC and a positive family history of the cancer had a significantly younger onset age and more multiple primary cancers than those without a positive family history. Sub-group analyses indicated that younger onset age may be due to the interaction of genetic predisposition and environmental hazards, and multiple primary cancers may only be due to genetic predisposition. AIM: To study the differences in onset age and multiple primary cancers between familial and sporadic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).METHODS: The differences in onset age and multiple primary cancers were analyzed between ESCC patients with (n = 766) and without ( n = 1776) a family history of the cancer. The cases developed characterized all consecutive patients who had undergone cure-intent surgery at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the 4th Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 1 1975 to December 31 1989. Because we Also that there is a long follow-up period were selected.RESULTS: Overall, patients with ESCC and a positive family history of the cancer had a significantly younger age at onset and more multiple primary Cancers than those without a positive family history(51.83 ± 8.39 vs 53.49 ± 8.23 ​​years old, P = 0.000; 5.50% vs 1.70%, P = 0.000). Both of these differences were evident in s Ubgroup analyses, however, no correlations were observed. while age at onset differed significantly by family history in males, smokers, and drinkers, the difference in multiple primary cancers by family history was significant in nonsmoking, nondrinking, and younger onset patients. In multivariate Analysis, age over 50 years, tobacco smoking, and multiple primary cancers were found to be significant predictors of familial cancer: the corresponding OR(95%CI) and P-value were 0.974(0.963-0.985) and 0.000; 1.271(1.053- 1.535) and 0.012; and 4.265(2.535-7.176) and 0.000, respectively.CONCLUSION: Patients with ESCC and a positive family history of the cancer had a significantly younger onset age and more multiple primary cancers than those without a positive family history. Sub -group laws were indicated that younger onset age may be due to the interaction of genetic predisposition and environmental hazards, and multiple primary cancers may only be due to genetic predisposition.