ObjectiveTo explore the possible factors which influence the survival time of elderly patients with esophageal cancer.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with esophageal cancer treated in the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Gansu Province Tumor Hospital from January 2012 to October 2016. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate and analyze the single factor, survival curve with log-rank test. The Cox regression model was used for multivariate prognostic analysis．ResultsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 302 patients were eventually collected, including 231 males and 71 females, with an average age of 66.0±6.0 years. The univariate analysis showed that age, tumor stage, tumor site, Karnosfsky performance satus (KPS) score, and treatment were prognostic factors (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the patient age and treatment were independent factors for overall survival (OS) and progress-free survival (PFS) (P<0.05). The OS and PFS of the patients with age≤70 years were better than those of the patients more than 70 years. Chemotherapy alone and surgery alone was better for survival situation than radiotherapy alone.ConclusionAge and treatment are independent prognostic factors in survival time of the elderly patients with esophageal cancer.