Could smarter surgery spare lymph nodes in esophageal cancer?
NCT ID NCT07697898
First seen Jul 13, 2026 · Last updated Jul 14, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study follows 400 people with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who have received chemo-immunotherapy before surgery. During standard tumor removal, surgeons will carefully label and analyze each lymph node station to see which ones still contain cancer. The goal is to map residual cancer risk and immune activity, which may one day allow surgeons to remove fewer lymph nodes, reducing complications.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- curative esophagectomy with systematic lymphadenectomy
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this research could point toward safer, more personalized surgeries that remove fewer lymph nodes, reducing side effects without compromising cancer control.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational study, not a treatment trial. It will not change current surgery, and findings may not lead to new approaches. Results depend on many factors and may not apply to all patients.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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