Combining immunotherapy and radiotherapy for advanced esophageal cancer

A Trial of Combination and Timing of Immunotherapy With Radiotherapy in Patients With Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

This study is testing if combining immunotherapy with radiotherapy can help people with advanced esophageal cancer live longer and better after they’ve already had chemotherapy.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 100 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 80 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Fudan University (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy, immunotherapy
• Locations: 1 site (Shanghai)
• Trial ID: NCT05760391 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the effectiveness of combining immunotherapy with radiotherapy in patients with metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who have previously received chemotherapy. It is a single-arm, prospective trial aiming to assess improvements in survival and disease control compared to historical data. Eligible patients must have unresectable or recurrent ESCC and have not received prior systemic therapy. The study focuses on patients who have measurable lesions and are within a specific age range.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18-80 with unresectable or recurrent ESCC who have received first-line immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy.

Not a fit: Patients with resectable ESCC or those who have received prior systemic therapy may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve survival rates and disease management for patients with advanced ESCC.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in combining immunotherapy with local therapies, suggesting potential for success in this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 18-80, had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score of 0-1;
2. Patients had unresectable or recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma that precluded esophagectomy or definitive chemoradiation, or distant metastatic disease;
3. Patients had received no previous systemic therapy (patients who had progressed ≥6 months after \[neo\]adjuvant therapy or definitive chemoradiation were eligible);
4. Patients accepted at least one cycle of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy combined chemotherapy as 1st line treatment.
5. All lesions of current diagnosis did not receive local treatment such as radiotherapy, surgery, radiofrequency ablation before enrollment.
6. The measurable lesion was determined by the investigator based on the RECIST 1.1 assessment. A lesion located in a previous radiotherapy area can be considered a target lesion if it is confirmed to progress and is considered to be measurable according to RECIST 1.1.
7. Estimated survival time \>12 weeks.
8. The function of vital organs meets the following requirements:

   Neutrophil absolute count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 × 10\^9 / L platelets ≥ 100 × 10\^9 / L; Hemoglobin ≥ 9g / dL; serum albumin ≥ 2.8g / dL; Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × ULN, ALT, AST and / or AKP ≤ 2.5 × ULN; if there is liver metastasis, ALT and / or AST ≤ 5 × ULN; if there is liver metastasis or bone metastasis AKP ≤ 5 × ULN; serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 × ULN or creatinine clearance \> 60 mL / min; For patients with pulmonary lesions or previous lung irradiation who are known or suspected to have impaired lung function, the forced expiratory volume (FEV1) for 1 second of lung function must be above 1L.
9. Female subjects of childbearing age must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to randomization. Subjects agreed to adequate contraception during the trial.
10. The patient is voluntarily enrolled and obtained the informed consent form signed by the patient or his legal representative.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who are prior exposure to immune-mediated therapy.
2. Patients participated in any investigational drug study within 4 weeks preceding the start of treatment.
3. The toxicity of previous anti-tumor treatment has not recovered to ≤ National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0 level 1 (except for hair loss) or the level specified by the inclusion/exclusion criteria.
4. Patients with uncontrolled brain metastases, or vertebral body metastasis with spinal cord compression symptoms.
5. Patients with uncontrolled pleural, pericardial or pelvic effusion that requires repeated drainage.
6. Patients with history of immunodeficiency, or severe medical diseases that are not well controlled, which may have effect on the treatment of this study.
7. Any other malignant tumor was diagnosed within 5 years prior to or after the diagnosis of ESCC, except for malignant tumors with a low risk of metastasis and death (5-year survival rate \>90%), such as well-treated basal cells or squamous cell skin cancer or cervical cancer in situ.

Where this trial is running

Shanghai

• Fudan University Shanghai cancer center — Shanghai, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Qi Liu, M.D.

Conditions Metastatic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma