Efficacy and Safety of Low-dose Radiation Combined With Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy in Locally Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
This study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of low-dose radiation combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. By reducing the radiation dose from 40 Gy in 20 fractions to 4 Gy in 2 fractions, the goal is to lessen the adverse reactions caused by radiotherapy. Additionally, the study explores whether low-dose radiation therapy can promote the cross-presentation of tumor-specific antigens and increase lymphocyte infiltration into the tumor site. Study also examines whether this approach can enhance tumor-specific immune responses, thereby potentially improving the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors.
• Histologically confirmed thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with clinical staging of: cT1b-cT2 N1-2 M0 or cT3-cT4a N0-2 M0 (AJCC/UICC esophageal cancer staging, 8th edition)
• Candidates eligible for an R0 curative resection
• ECOG performance status of 0-1
• Male or female patients aged ≥18 years and ≤75 years
• Adequate major organ and bone marrow function (without transfusion or medication correction): Complete blood count: White blood cells ≥ 3.5×10\^9/L, Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) ≥1.5 ×10\^9/L, Platelets ≥100×10\^9/L, Hemoglobin ≥9g/dL
• Radiation oncologist assessment confirms no severe pulmonary ventilatory dysfunction and no acute cardiac failure. (Pulmonary function: FEV1/FVC≥70%, FEV1≥50% of the normal value, DLCO (lung diffusion capacity) actual versus predicted value \>80%)
• Liver function: Total bilirubin ≤1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and/or Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤2.5 times ULN, Serum albumin ≥3g/dL
• Renal function: Serum creatinine ≤1.5×ULN, or creatinine clearance ≥ 60ml/min (calculated using the Cockcroft/Gault formula): Female: CrCl = (140 - age) x weight (kg) x 0.85 / 72 x serum creatinine (mg/dL) Male: CrCl = (140 - age) x weight (kg) x 1.00 / 72 x serum creatinine (mg/dL)
• Study participants voluntarily join the study and sign a written informed consent form, and are able to comply with the protocol-specified visits and related procedures
⁃ Expected survival \>6 months
⁃ Patients agree to undergo surgical treatment as well as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy
⁃ Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test within 7 days prior to the initiation of treatment; all participants, regardless of gender, are willing to use appropriate contraceptive methods during the trial and for 8 weeks after the last dose of study medication
⁃ No esophageal perforation or active esophageal bleeding, and no tracheal or major thoracic vascular invasion
⁃ According to the solid tumor response evaluation criteria (RECIST version 1.1), at least one measurable lesion by imaging