Treatments for resectable esophageal cancer: from traditional systemic therapy to immunotherapy

Abstract

Esophageal cancer (EC) has a high incidence and poor prognosis. The two major histological types, squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, differ in their epidemiology and treatment options. Patients with locally advanced EC benefit from multimodal therapy concepts including neoadjuvant chemotherapy, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, and perioperative chemotherapy. Currently, immunotherapy for the solid tumor is a hot spot. Treatment with adjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is the first immunotherapy for resectable EC listed in the latest National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines for the Esophageal and Esophagogastric Junction Cancers. Recent clinical trials have established ICIs for three treatment models of resectable EC. Their short-term results demonstrated ideal efficacy and tolerable toxicity, though some concerns remain. This review summarizes the novel data on the ICIs for resectable EC and lists the registered related clinical trials. Hopefully, this review can provide a reference for ongoing research on the treatment options for resectable EC.

A Correlation Evaluation Between the Peripheral Blood Index and the Prognosis of Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients Treated with Camrelizumab

“…For patients with advanced esophageal cancer, the efficacy of traditional treatments remains unsatisfactory. 20 Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are becoming the major means of treatment. PD-1 inhibitors exert anti-tumor effects by blocking receptor-ligand specific binding, a safe and effective treatment modality.…”

Retrospective study of the combination of TP and PF regimens with or without immune checkpoint inhibitors for the first-line treatment of locally advanced or advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

“…ICIs are immunotherapies that target immune cell surface checkpoints and enhance immunity through the use of antibodies to ‘tumor escape’, ultimately leading to an antitumor response by turning off the immune system’s braking mechanisms. 43–47 An increasing number of studies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of ICIs in patients with ESCC. In a phase III clinical trial of advanced ESCC second-line therapy (RATIONALE-302, NCT03430843), the use of tislelizumab was associated with improved OS and better safety compared to chemotherapy alone.…”

PSMA7 promotes the malignant proliferation of esophageal cancer

“…Systemic chemotherapy is the standard of care for unresectable ESCA, but patients have limited survival benefit from it, with a median overall survival of no more than 10 months [ 6 ]. Molecularly targeted therapies and immunotherapy have not yet been able to significantly improved patient survival [ 7 ]. Therefore, it is important to explore new molecules that play a key role in ESCA progression in order to develop new therapeutic strategies.…”