Objective:To investigate the effects of Shidao Tongjie Granules combined with chemotherapy on disease-free survival (DFS) in the treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) at stage IIB-IIIC after radical resection. MethodsA prospective, randomized, controlled study was performed in 106 patients with ESCC at stage IIB-IIIC after radical resection. The patients were randomly assigned into traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) + chemotherapy (TCM+CT) group (n=51) and chemotherapy (CT) group (n=55). DFS and 1-, 2- and 3-year DFS rates were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method in both groups. A log-rank univariate analysis was performed on factors with possible impact on DFS, and a multivariate analysis was carried out on the DFS-related prognosis factors using Cox proportional hazard model based on results of the univariate analysis.  Results:①The median DFS was 34.6 and 23.3 months in the TCM+CT group and the CT group respectively, with statistically significant difference between the groups (P<0.05). ②The 1-, 2- and 3-year DFS rates were 76.5%, 58.0% and 42.2% in the TCM+CT group respectively, and 72.7%, 45.4% and 32.4% in the CT+TCM group respectively. ③The results of log-rank univariate analysis showed that scope of lymph node invasion, TNM staging, presence or absence of vascular cancer emboli and whether or not combined with TCM were the prognosis factors of DFS. ④The results of Cox multivariate analysis showed presence or absence of vascular cancer emboli and whether or not combined with TCM were the independent prognosisfactors of DFS in patients with ESCC at stage IIB-IIIC after radical resection.  Conclusion:Shidao Tongjie Granules in combination with chemotherapy prolongs DFS, and presence or absence of vascular cancer emboli and whether or not combined with TCM are the independent prognostic factors of DFS in patients with ESCC at stage IIB-IIIC after radical resection.