Efficacy and Safety of Toripalimab After Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy in Elderly Patients With Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: a Multicenter, Randomized, Phase II Trial (EC-CRT-007)
Although definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is the standard treatment option for unresectable locally advanced esophageal cancer, elderly patients tolerate intravenous concurrent CRT less well with age and comorbidities. Previous trials have demonstrated that CRT with oral S-1 was tolerable and provided significant survival benefits over radiotherapy alone in elderly patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, as high as 54% of patients with elderly ESCC experienced locoregional or distant recurrence after CRT. Therefore, a more effective regimen for older patients is needed. Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting PD-1/PD-L1 have shown substantial clinical benefits in advanced esophageal cancer. Recently, the combination of immunotherapy with CRT has emerged as a promising strategy to improve clinical outcomes in locally advanced esophageal cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of toripalimab (an anti-PD-1 antibody) after concurrent CRT in elderly patients with locally advanced ESCC.
• Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus;
• Locally advanced, and absence of hematogenous metastasis disease according to UICC TNM version 8;
• Not suitable for surgery (either for medical reasons or patient's choice);
• Age at diagnosis 70 to 85 years;
• No prior cancer therapy;
• Estimated life expectancy \>6 months;
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤ 2
• No history of concomitant or previous malignancy;
• The function of important organs meets the following requirements: a. white blood cell count (WBC) ≥4.0×109/L, absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1.5×109/L; b. platelets ≥100×109/L; c. hemoglobin ≥9g/dL; d. serum albumin ≥2.8g/dL; e. total bilirubin ≤1.5×ULN, ALT, AST and/or AKP ≤2.5×ULN; f. serum creatinine ≤1.5×ULN or creatinine clearance rate \>60 mL/min;
⁃ Ability to understand the study and sign informed consent.