Preoperative pembrolizumab (anti-PD-1 antibody) combined with chemoradiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a phase 1/2 trial (PALACE-2).

ABSTRACT: The role of preoperative anti-PD-1 antibody (pembrolizumab) plus chemoradiotherapy (PPCT) in locally advanced, resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is still unclear. We aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect and safety of PPCT followed by surgery in this study (NCT03792347, NCT04435197). Patients with histologically confirmed, locally advanced, and surgically resectable ESCC were enrolled. They received PPCT with paclitaxel/carboplatin or nab-paclitaxel/carboplatin, followed by esophagectomy 4-6 weeks after treatment. The primary endpoint was the pathologic complete response (pCR) rate. Tumor specimens, blood samples and subcutaneous tumor mouse models were utilized to explore and validate the dynamic characteristics of the tumor microenvironment (TME) of ESCC after PP

SUBMITTER: Li C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12660869 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature