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NCT Number: NCT07263919

Perioperative Cadonilimab Combined With Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Resectable Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC)

This is a randomized, controlled, multi-center phase II/III study. All patients are resectable locally advanced thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of perioperative Cadonilimab combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with resectable ESCC.

Recruiting

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Key information

Age range

18 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University

Xi'an, China

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Xiaolong Yan

CONTACT

[email protected]

15991269383

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Be able and willing to provide written informed consent and to comply with all requirements of study participation (including all study procedures).
  • ≥18 years old and ≤ 75 years (regardless of sex).
  • Pathologically confirmed esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, assessed as resectable.
  • Adequate pulmonary function.
  • Adequate tumor tissue samples.
  • ECOG performance status of 0-1.
  • Adequate organ function.
  • Within 7 days prior to the first dose, women of childbearing potential must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test and agree to use effective contraception during the study treatment period and for 120 days after the last dose.

Exclusion criteria

  • Presence of suspected distant metastatic lesions, or locally advanced unresectable disease.
  • Histologically confirmed as other pathological types.
  • Previous surgery precludes the use of gastric substitution for esophageal reconstruction in the current procedure.
  • History of other malignant tumors within the past 5 years.
  • Within 4 weeks prior to randomization, presence of conditions such as severe esophagogastric varices, active ulcers, unhealed wounds, gastrointestinal perforation, or intestinal obstruction.
  • Active or documented history of inflammatory bowel disease.
  • Clinically symptomatic or recurrent pleural, pericardial, or ascitic fluid requiring drainage.
  • Uncontrolled concurrent illnesses.
  • Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease within 4 weeks prior to randomization.
  • History of myocardial infarction, unstable angina, congestive heart failure within 12 months prior to day 1 of study treatment.
  • History of severe bleeding tendency or coagulation dysfunction.
  • Arterial thromboembolic events within 6 months prior to randomization.
  • History or current presence of non-infectious pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease requiring systemic glucocorticoids.
  • Known psychiatric disorders, drug abuse, or substance addiction.
  • Pregnant or lactating women.
  • Prior systemic or local antitumor therapy for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
  • Systemic non-specific immunomodulatory therapy within 2 weeks prior to randomization.
  • Major surgery or severe trauma within 4 weeks prior to randomization.
  • Known allergy to any component of the investigational drug(s).
  • Active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment within 2 years prior to randomization.
  • Active hepatitis B infection.
  • Known active tuberculosis.
  • Severe infections within 4 weeks prior to randomization.
  • History of immunodeficiency or positive HIV test.
  • Known active syphilis infection.
  • Live vaccination within 4 weeks prior to randomization or planned during the study.
  • History of allogeneic organ transplantation or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
  • Is currently participating in a study of an investigational agent or using an investigational device.

Treatment and study plan

Cadonilimab (AK104)

Drug

Specified doses on specified days.

Cisplatin

Drug

IV infusion; 75mg/m2

paclitaxel

Drug

IV infusion; 175mg/m2

Primary outcomes

  1. Pathologic Complete Response (pCR) rate as assessed by the investigator

    Time frame: Up to approximately 2 years

    Proportion of subjects with no tumor residue in the primary tumor and regional lymph nodes.

  2. Adverse Event (Phase II stage)

    Time frame: Up to approximately 5 years

    Incidence and severity of adverse events (AEs), rate of delayed surgery, and clinically significant abnormal laboratory findings.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Major Pathological Response (MPR) rate as assessed by the investigator

    Time frame: Up to approximately 2 years

    Proportion of subjects with ≤10% residual live tumor cells as assessed by the investigator.

  2. R0 resection rate

    Time frame: Up to approximately 2 years

    Proportion of subjects with pathologically complete resection of primary tumors

  3. Event Free Survival (EFS)

    Time frame: Up to approximately 5 years

    Time from randomization until radiographic disease progression, local progression precluding surgery, inability to resect the tumor, local or distant recurrence, or death due to any cause.

  4. Disease Free Survival (DFS)

    Time frame: Up to approximately 5 years

    Time from surgery to local or distant recurrence, or death due to any cause.

  5. Overall Survival (OS)

    Time frame: Up to approximately 5 years

    Time from randomization until death from any cause.

  6. Overall Response Rate (ORR)

    Time frame: Up to approximately 2 years

    Proportion of subjects with complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) during the neoadjuvant stage.

  7. Disease Control Rate (DCR)

    Time frame: Up to approximately 2 years

    Evaluation of DCR based on RECIST v1.1

  8. Pharmacokinetics (PK)

    Time frame: Up to approximately 2 years

    PK parameters: serum concentrations of Cadonilimab at different point of time

  9. Anti-Drug Antibodies(ADAs)

    Time frame: Up to approximately 2 years

    Proportion of subjects with detectable ADA.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Wenting Li

CONTACT

[email protected]

18116403289

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Akeso

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

A Randomized, Controlled, Multi-center Phase II/III Clinical Trial of Perioperative Cadonilimab Combined With Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients With Resectable Locally Advanced Thoracic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC)

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2030
Study completion
2031
First posted
Dec 4, 2025
Registry last updated
Dec 31, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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