Single-center phase 2 trial of neoadjuvant tislelizumab plus chemotherapy for initially unresectable advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

A phase 2 study at Nanjing Medical University evaluated the combination of tislelizumab (anti-PD-1) with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment among patients with initially unresectable advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (aESCC). The treatment was safe, with a grade 3 or higher adverse event rate of 14.9%. Major pathological response was seen in 40.4% and pathological complete response in 25.5%. Four patients (8.5%) achieved complete clinical response and declined surgery, whereas 23 patients (49%) underwent successful resection.The median disease-free survival was 24 months, and the median overall survival was 36 months. The authors conclude that neoadjuvant tislelizumab combined with chemotherapy was effective in patients with initially unresectable aESCC.