Neoadjuvant sintilimab, albumin-bound paclitaxel, and carboplatin for locally advanced, resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: clinical study and mechanistic exploration.

ABSTRACT: The survival benefits of neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy in locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain unclear, with treatment responses varying due to tumor microenvironment (TME) heterogeneity. In this phase II study, 24 patients received neoadjuvant sintilimab, albumin-bound paclitaxel, and carboplatin, with major pathological response (MPR), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) as primary endpoints. Results showed a 41.7% MPR rate, with 3 year DFS and OS rates of 75.0% and 79.2%, respectively. The PD-L1 expression of all patients increased during treatment; and its post-treatment levels were more strongly associated with the response to PD-1 inhibitors than pre-treatment levels. Besides, the mass spectrometry-based proteomic

SUBMITTER: Wu H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12948962 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature