Multinational phase 3 study of first-line pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy for advanced esophageal cancer

First-line therapy for advanced esophageal cancer is currently limited to fluoropyrimidine plus platinum-based chemotherapy. The multinational phase 3 KEYNOTE-590 study evaluated addition of pembrolizumab to first-line chemotherapy for advanced esophageal cancer. Compared with placebo plus chemotherapy, pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy improved overall survival in patients with advanced ESCC and PD-L1 CPS of 10 or moren, and overall and progression-free survival in patients with ESCC, PD-L1 CPS of 10 or more, and in all randomized patients regardless of histology. The safety profile was manageable.