Update of latest data for combined therapy for esophageal cancer using radiotherapy and immunotherapy: A focus on efficacy, safety, and biomarkers

Shuping Cheng; Butuo Li; Jinming Yu; Linlin Wang

doi:10.21147/j.issn.1000-9604.2023.05.06

Update of latest data for combined therapy for esophageal cancer using radiotherapy and immunotherapy: A focus on efficacy, safety, and biomarkers

Chin J Cancer Res. 2023 Oct 30;35(5):483-500. doi: 10.21147/j.issn.1000-9604.2023.05.06.

Authors

Shuping Cheng¹, Butuo Li¹, Jinming Yu^{2

3}, Linlin Wang^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250117, China.
² Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China.
³ Research Unit of Radiation Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China.

PMID: 37969961
PMCID: PMC10643341
DOI: 10.21147/j.issn.1000-9604.2023.05.06

Abstract

Esophageal cancer usually has a poor prognosis. Given the significant breakthrough with tumor immunotherapy, an increasing number of clinical studies have demonstrated that the combination of radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) may have a synergistic effect and good outcome in esophageal cancer. Clinical studies of immunoradiotherapy (iRT) for esophageal cancer have proliferated enormously from 2021 to the present. However, a summary of the efficacy and toxicity of combined therapy to guide esophageal cancer treatment in clinical practice is lacking. For this review, we integrate the latest data to analyze and assess the efficacy and safety of iRT for esophageal cancer. In addition, we discuss better predictive biomarkers, therapeutic options for specific populations, and other challenges to identify directions for future research design.

Keywords: Esophageal cancer; combination therapies; immunoradiotherapy.