Immunotherapy in Squamous Cell Cancer of the Esophagus

TY - JOUR

T1 - Immunotherapy in Squamous Cell Cancer of the Esophagus

AU - Thuss-Patience, Peter

AU - Stein, Alexander

PY - 2022/3/30

Y1 - 2022/3/30

N2 - Treatment of esophageal carcinoma has changed dramatically following several landmark trials, which have proven the benefit of immunotherapy. The selective PD-1 (programmed cell death ligand-1)-inhibitor nivolumab has been shown to improve DFS in the adjuvant therapy setting (CheckMate-577). In the first-line treatment, PD-L1 positive (CPS ≥ 10) squamous cell carcinoma patients (pts) have been shown to have an increased OS following treatment with the PD-1-inhibitor pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy (KEYNOTE-590). Nivolumab also improved overall survival in the first line setting either combined with ipilimumab or with chemotherapy (CheckMate 648) compared to chemotherapy alone. In Asian first-line patients, phase III trials investigating camrelizumab (ESCORT 1), toripalimab (JUPITER 06), or sintilimab (ORIENT 15) in addition to chemotherapy also showed significant survival benefits. In the second-line setting, monotherapy with nivolumab (ATTRACTION-03), pembrolizumab (KEYNOTE-181), camrelizumab (ESCORT), and tislelizumab (RATIONALE 302) demonstrated a benefit in OS in comparison to chemotherapy. Here we will review these trials and integrate them into the current treatment algorithm.

AB - Treatment of esophageal carcinoma has changed dramatically following several landmark trials, which have proven the benefit of immunotherapy. The selective PD-1 (programmed cell death ligand-1)-inhibitor nivolumab has been shown to improve DFS in the adjuvant therapy setting (CheckMate-577). In the first-line treatment, PD-L1 positive (CPS ≥ 10) squamous cell carcinoma patients (pts) have been shown to have an increased OS following treatment with the PD-1-inhibitor pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy (KEYNOTE-590). Nivolumab also improved overall survival in the first line setting either combined with ipilimumab or with chemotherapy (CheckMate 648) compared to chemotherapy alone. In Asian first-line patients, phase III trials investigating camrelizumab (ESCORT 1), toripalimab (JUPITER 06), or sintilimab (ORIENT 15) in addition to chemotherapy also showed significant survival benefits. In the second-line setting, monotherapy with nivolumab (ATTRACTION-03), pembrolizumab (KEYNOTE-181), camrelizumab (ESCORT), and tislelizumab (RATIONALE 302) demonstrated a benefit in OS in comparison to chemotherapy. Here we will review these trials and integrate them into the current treatment algorithm.

KW - Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/drug therapy

KW - Epithelial Cells

KW - Esophageal Neoplasms/drug therapy

KW - Humans

KW - Immunologic Factors/therapeutic use

KW - Immunotherapy

KW - Nivolumab/therapeutic use

KW - Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor

U2 - 10.3390/curroncol29040200

DO - 10.3390/curroncol29040200

M3 - SCORING: Review article

C2 - 35448174

VL - 29

SP - 2461

EP - 2471

JO - CURR ONCOL

JF - CURR ONCOL

SN - 1198-0052

IS - 4

ER -