Multicenter analysis of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy versus neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy for locally advanced ESCC

Both neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy (NCIT) and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) can be used for patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (LA ESCC). Analysis of prospectively maintained database of 8 centers in China compared outcomes after NCIT versus NCRT for LA ESCC. In this study involving 1428 patients, the 2-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were significantly higher in the NCIT group than in the NCRT group. The major pathologic response rate was higher in the NCRT group than in the NCIT group, but the pathologic complete response rates were similar. The authors conclude that, compared with the current standard NCRT therapy, NCIT is associated with significantly improved long-term survival among patients with LA ESCC.