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Why does esophageal cancer come back after treatment? researchers search medical records for clues

NCT ID NCT07822906

Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting This study
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Sep 16, 2026 · Last updated Sep 17, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

Researchers are reviewing medical records of 100 people with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who received immunotherapy plus chemotherapy before surgery to remove the cancer. The study examines when and where cancer returns and which patient traits, treatment details, scan results, and tissue findings are linked to its return. All care was routine, and the study does not assign treatment or require extra tests or visits.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

What this could lead to
If researchers identify which factors predict recurrence, doctors could tailor monitoring and follow-up more precisely for people treated with immunotherapy and chemotherapy before esophageal cancer surgery.
What could go wrong
This is a small observational review of past records, so it can show associations but cannot prove cause and effect. Findings from one hospital group may not apply to other patients or treatment settings.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Participants

About 100 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Expected to start

Oct 2026

An estimate. Start dates often move.

Expected to finish

Dec 2026

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Who is studied

The source population comprises adults who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma at the study institution between August 1, 2020, and October 31, 2025. Patients will be identified through institutional medical records, imaging archives, surgical and pathology registries, and existing follow-up records. All patients within this surgical window who received neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy and meet the eligibility criteria will be included. No random sampling will be performed. Documented postoperative outcomes will be reviewed through December 1, 2025.

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 years or older at the time of surgery. Histologically confirmed esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Receipt of neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy, defined as an immune checkpoint inhibitor combined with chemotherapy, followed by curative esophagectomy between August 1, 2020, and October 31, 2025. Microscopically negative surgical margins (R0 resection), postoperative M0 status confirmed on review using the American Joint Committee on Cancer eighth edition staging system, and verifiable postoperative ypT and ypN categories. Availability of FDG PET/CT performed after completion of neoadjuvant treatment and before surgery, together with a verifiable surgery date, recurrence status, and valid follow-up dates. Availability of pretreatment PET/CT is not required. Exclusion Criteria: * Histology other than esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, R1 or R2 resection. Death within 30 days after surgery or absence of any verifiable postoperative outcome follow-up. Missing essential pathological staging information, or survival data that prevent confirmation of eligibility or determination of the primary outcome despite review of source records. Missing nonessential variables alone will not result in exclusion.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

esophageal squamous cell carcinoma Lymphatic Metastasis

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC)

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

  1. The places running it

    1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.

  2. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

    Open the record ↗

  3. A doctor treating you

    A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Peking University Cancer Hospital

    Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100142, China

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