Neoadjuvant camrelizumab combined with metronomic chemotherapy in patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a pilot randomized phase 2 trial - PubMed
4 hours ago
- #Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
- #Camrelizumab
- #Metronomic chemotherapy
- Neoadjuvant camrelizumab combined with metronomic chemotherapy (MCT) was tested in a pilot randomized phase 2 trial for advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).
- The study included 30 patients with resectable stage II or III ESCC, comparing MCT alone (paclitaxel, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil) versus MCT plus camrelizumab (IO + MCT).
- Pathological complete response (pCR) rates were 15.4% for MCT alone and 54.5% for IO + MCT, showing significant improvement with the combination therapy.
- Both treatments were well-tolerated with manageable side effects.
- Digital spatial profiling and multiplex immunofluorescent staining revealed that IO + MCT reduced exhausted T cells (CD39+) and increased tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs), especially in pCR patients.
- The study suggests that neoadjuvant IO + MCT may enhance treatment outcomes for ESCC patients.