Multinational phase 3 study of first-line nivolumab combination therapy for advanced ESCC

First-line chemotherapy for advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) results in poor outcomes, with median overall survival less than one year. Nivolumab has shown an overall survival benefit over chemotherapy in previously treated patients with advanced ESCC. The multinational phase 3 CheckMate 648 trial found that among patients with previously untreated advanced ESCC, both nivolumab plus chemotherapy and nivolumab plus ipilimumab resulted in significantly longer overall survival than chemotherapy alone (quick take video summary).