Testing a new cancer drug combined with chemotherapy for advanced esophageal cancer

Plain-English translation of NCT06022861 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated September 2024 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

Phase 3 — Testing in thousands of people, comparing the treatment against what doctors currently use. This is the last big step before approval.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing whether a new medication called works better than an existing immunotherapy drug (Opdivo) when combined with chemotherapy to treat advanced esophageal cancer. Both groups will receive the same two chemotherapy drugs; the difference is which immunotherapy medication they receive. The goal is to see which combination helps patients live longer and controls their cancer better.

Advanced esophageal cancer is very serious and current treatments have limited success. Immunotherapy medications work by helping your body's immune system fight cancer cells, and researchers believe combining a new medication with chemotherapy might be more effective than the current standard treatment.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are between 18 and 75 years old
you have been diagnosed with advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma that cannot be treated with surgery or radiation alone
you have not received any prior chemotherapy or immunotherapy for your advanced cancer (though prior treatment for earlier-stage disease is allowed if enough time has passed)
you have at least one measurable tumor that can be seen on scans
your overall health is good enough to tolerate treatment (ECOG performance status of 0 or 1)
a sample of your tumor shows PD-L1 expression at levels of 1% or higher

You likely don't qualify if…

you have brain metastases with symptoms, or spinal compression, or cancer that has spread to the lining around your brain
your tumor is at high risk of causing severe bleeding or creating an abnormal opening (fistula) between organs
your esophagus is nearly completely blocked or blocked in a way that could be dangerous if a stent is placed
you have had serious heart problems, unstable angina, a recent heart attack, severe heart failure, serious irregular heartbeat, or a recent stroke in the past 6 months
you have previously received any other immunotherapy drugs that work on checkpoint pathways (such as anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-CTLA-4 agents)

What participation looks like

You will be randomly assigned to receive either or Opdivo, combined with two chemotherapy drugs ( and ), given by infusion on a regular schedule. You will have multiple clinic visits for infusions, blood tests, and scans to monitor how well the treatment is working and how you are tolerating it. The trial will track you over several months to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of your assigned treatment.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 7, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

China

Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou