Preoperative Anti-PD-1 Antibody Combined With Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Esophagus

Esophageal cancer ranks the eighth most common cancer (the fifth most common cancer in China), while ESCC is the most common subtype in Asia (more than 90 % in china). Radical resection is thought to be the mainstay of esophageal cancer treatment and preoperative CRT is well applied in treating locally advanced esophageal cancer. In a multicohort, phase IB study, pembrolizumab was used in 23 unresectable esophageal cancer patients. In this clinical trial, the incidence of grade 3 treatment-related adverse events was 39 % without the appearance of grade 4 and higher-grade adverse event, while the overall response rate reached 30 %. The safety of immune checkpoint therapy for unresected esophageal cancers using nivolumab, a different PD-1 monoclonal antibody, has also been confirmed by high quality clinical trials.

This study will evaluate the safety and feasibility of preoperative immune checkpoint therapy using pembrolizumab with concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. And this study will provide valuable information for further clinical trials of preoperative pembrolizumab and other immune checkpoint therapy in esophageal cancer.

Inclusion criteria

• A patient will be eligible for inclusion in this study only if ALL of the following criteria apply:

• Histologically confirmed cT2-T4a,N0-N+,M0 resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1
• Patients approve and sign the informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• 1. Patients with active autoimmune disease or history of autoimmune disease 2. Patients who have a condition requiring systemic treatment with either corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive medications 3. Subjects with a history of symptomatic interstitial lung disease 4. History of allergy to study drug components 5. Women must not be pregnant or breast-feeding 6. Men with female partners (WOCBP) that are not willing to use contraception 7. Patient has received prior chemotherapy, radiotherapy, target therapy and immune therapy for this malignancy or for any other past malignancy 8. Underlying medical conditions that, in the Investigator's opinion, will make the administration of study drug hazardous or obscure the interpretation of toxicity or adverse events