Testing personalized pre-surgery treatments for advanced esophageal cancer

Plain-English translation of NCT06601309 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated September 2025 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

Phase 2 — Testing in a bigger group (up to a few hundred people) to see if the treatment actually works and is still safe.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing whether a personalized approach to pre-surgery treatment for advanced esophageal cancer works better than standard care. Doctors will measure a specific immune marker in your cancer cells (called PD-L1) and use that result to decide which pre-surgery treatment you receive: alone, combined with chemotherapy, or chemotherapy combined with radiation. The goal is to help shrink your tumor as much as possible before surgery, so your surgeon can remove it completely.

Currently, about half of people with advanced esophageal cancer still have cancer come back after surgery, even with standard treatments. Researchers believe that tailoring pre-surgery treatment to each person's cancer immune profile—rather than giving everyone the same treatment—might work better and help more people stay cancer-free after surgery.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma that is locally advanced but can potentially be removed with surgery
you are between 18 and 75 years old
you are in good enough health to receive chemotherapy and/or radiation (ECOG performance status 0–1)
your blood work shows adequate bone marrow, liver, and kidney function
you have not previously received immunotherapy drugs (anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-CTLA-4 antibodies)
your surgeon has confirmed you are a candidate for surgery to remove the tumor

You likely don't qualify if…

your cancer has already spread to distant parts of your body
you have a history of autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment in the past 2 years
you have an active infection requiring antibiotics or other systemic therapy
you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or unable to use birth control
you have a known allergy to any of the study medications

What participation looks like

First, doctors will test your tumor to measure its immune marker (PD-L1 level), which determines which pre-surgery treatment you receive. You'll then receive your assigned treatment over several weeks (either immunotherapy alone, immunotherapy plus chemotherapy, or chemotherapy plus radiation). After 4–6 weeks of rest, you'll have surgery to remove the tumor. Throughout the process, you'll have regular clinic visits for blood work, scans, and check-ins. After surgery, doctors will assess how well the treatment worked and monitor you for side effects.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 13, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

China

Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian