Immunotherapy combined with chemoradiation and surgery for advanced esophageal cancer

A Phase Ib/II Trial of Neoadjuvant Tiragolumab, Atezolizumab, Paclitaxel, Cisplatin and Radiotherapy Followed by Surgery for Locally Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

This study is testing if adding two immune treatments to standard therapy can help people with advanced esophageal cancer have better outcomes after surgery.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase1; Phase2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 32 (estimated)
• Ages: 20 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: National Taiwan University Hospital (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: atezolizumab, tiragolumab, chemotherapy, radiation, prednisone, immunotherapy
• Locations: 1 site (Taipei)
• Trial ID: NCT05743504 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial investigates the safety and efficacy of combining tiragolumab and atezolizumab with standard trimodality therapy (TMT) for patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The study aims to improve the pathological complete response rate following neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT) and radical esophagectomy. By incorporating these immune checkpoint inhibitors, the trial seeks to enhance overall survival outcomes for patients who are operable and have resectable tumors. The research builds on previous findings linking immune-related biomarkers to patient prognosis.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults aged 20 and older with histologically confirmed locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma that is operable and resectable.

Not a fit: Patients with non-squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus or those with inoperable disease may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

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

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results with similar immunotherapy approaches in treating advanced esophageal cancer, indicating potential for success in this trial.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Histologically proved squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus
2. Locally advanced disease, which are defined by TNM system of American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Cancer Staging System (8th edition) in 2017, fulfilling one of the following criteria:

   1. T1-2N2-3M0
   2. T3N1-3M0
3. Tumor judged to be operable and resectable with curative intent on the screening assessment
4. Age ≥ 20 years
5. Medical fit for curative surgery
6. ECOG Performance Status 0 or 1
7. Adequate bone marrow reserves within 2 weeks prior to registration, defined as:

   1. absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.5×109/L (1,500/μl)
   2. platelets ≥ 100×109/L (100,000/µl)
   3. hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dl (may have been transfused)
8. Adequate liver function reserves within 2 weeks prior to registration, defined as:

   1. hepatic transaminases (AST and ALT) ≤ 2.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN)
   2. serum total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN)
9. Adequate renal function within 2 weeks prior to registration: Creatinine ≤1.5 mg/dL
10. Negative hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) at screening or Positive HBsAg with HBV DNA \< 500 IU/mL (or 2500 copies/mL) at screening. Patients with detectable HBsAg or detectable HBV DNA should be managed institutional guidelines.

    a. Patients receiving anti-viral medication must have initiated treatment at least 2 weeks prior to protocol treatment and should continue treatment for at least 6 months after the final dose of study treatment
11. Negative hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody test at screening, or positive HCV antibody test followed by a negative HCV RNA test at screening
12. Negative serum or urine pregnancy test for women of childbearing potential
13. Women of childbearing potential and male participants must practice highly effective contraception with a failure rate of \< 1% per year during the treatment period and for 5 months after the final dose of atezolizumab and for 90 days after the final dose of tiragolumab
14. Patients must be able to comply with the study protocol and follow-up schedules and provide study-specific informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Prior treatment with CD137 agonists or immune checkpoint blockade therapies, including anti-¬CTLA-4, anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1 and anti-¬TIGIT therapeutic antibodies
2. Prior radiotherapy to head and neck, chest, or abdomen
3. Prior chemotherapy
4. Histology consistent with adenocarcinoma, small cell carcinoma or mixed carcinoma of esophagus or gastroesophageal junction.
5. Synchronously or metachronously diagnosed squamous cell carcinoma of aerodigestive way, other than esophageal cancer
6. History of malignancy other than esophageal cancer within 2 years prior to screening, with the exception of malignancies with a negligible risk of metastasis or death (e.g., 5-year overall survival rate 90%), such as adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, non-melanoma skin carcinoma, localized prostate cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ, or Stage I uterine cancer

   a. Patients who received endoscopic mucosal resection or dissection for superficial mucosal cancers other than ESCC within 2 years prior to screening are eligible for the study.
7. Prior organ transplantation including allogenic stem-cell transplantation
8. Current use of immunosuppressive medication, EXCEPT for the following:

   1. intranasal, inhaled, topical steroids, or local steroid injection (e.g., intra-articular injection)
   2. systemic corticosteroids at physiologic doses ≤ 10 mg/day of prednisone or equivalent
   3. steroids as premedication for hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., CT scan premedication).
9. Treatment with therapeutic oral or intravenous antibiotics within 2 weeks prior to registration

   a. Patients receiving prophylactic antibiotics (e.g., to prevent a urinary tract infection or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation) are eligible for the study.
10. Active autoimmune disease that might deteriorate when receiving an immuno-stimulatory agent. Patients with diabetes type I, vitiligo, psoriasis, or hypo- or hyperthyroid diseases not requiring immunosuppressive treatment and on stable regimen are eligible.
11. Severe, active comorbidities which, in the judgment of the investigator, would make the patient inappropriate for entry into this study or interfere significantly with the proper assessment of safety and adverse events of the protocol, or limit compliance with study requirements, defined as follows:

    1. Severe infection within 4 weeks prior to registration, including, but not limited to, hospitalization for complications of infection, bacteremia, or severe pneumonia. Treatment with therapeutic oral or IV antibiotics within 2 weeks prior to registration. Patients receiving prophylactic antibiotics (e.g., to prevent a urinary tract infection or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation) are eligible for the study.
    2. Transmural myocardial infarction \< 6 months prior to registration
    3. Unstable angina or congestive heart failure requiring hospitalization \< 6 months prior to registration
    4. Life-threatening uncontrolled clinically significant cardiac arrhythmias
    5. Cerebral vascular accident/stroke (\< 6 months prior to enrollment)
    6. Congestive heart failure (≥ New York Heart Association Classification Class II), or serious cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication.
    7. Hepatic insufficiency resulting in clinical jaundice and/or coagulation defects
    8. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation or other respiratory illness including pulmonary fibrosis requiring hospitalization or precluding study therapy at the time of registration
    9. Uncontrolled psychiatric disorder including recent (within the past year) or active suicidal ideation or behavior
    10. Laboratory abnormalities that may increase the risk associated with study participation or study treatment administration or may interfere with the interpretation of study results
    11. Immune colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, immune pneumonitis
12. History of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, organizing pneumonia (e.g., bronchiolitis obliterans), drug-induced pneumonitis, or idiopathic pneumonitis, or evidence of active pneumonitis on screening CT scan
13. Active tuberculosis
14. Uncontrolled or symptomatic hypercalcemia (corrected calcium \> ULN)
15. Known history of testing positive for HIV or known acquired immunodeficiency syndrome."
16. Positive Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) viral capsid antigen IgM test at screening

    a. An EBV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test should be performed as clinically indicated to screen for active infection or suspected chronic active infection. Patients with a positive EBV PCR test are excluded.
17. Vaccination with a live, attenuated vaccine within 4 weeks prior to initiation of study treatment, or anticipation of need for such a vaccine during study treatment or within 5 months after the final dose of study treatment is prohibited except for administration of inactivated vaccines
18. History of severe allergic anaphylactic reactions to chimeric or humanized antibodies or fusion proteins
19. Known prior severe hypersensitivity to investigational product, Chinese hamster ovary cell products or any component in its formulations, including known severe hypersensitivity reactions to monoclonal antibodies (NCI CTCAE v5.0 Grade ≥ 3)
20. Concurrent participation in another interventional clinical trial
21. Pregnant or breast-feeding women
22. Women of childbearing potential and male participants who are sexually active and not willing/able to use medically acceptable forms of contraception; this exclusion is necessary because the radiation treatment involved in this study may be significantly teratogenic

Where this trial is running

Taipei

• National Taiwan University Hospital — Taipei, Taiwan (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Chia-Hsien Cheng, Cheng — Employee
• Study coordinator: Chia-Hsien Cheng, c

Conditions Locally Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma