Immunotherapy combo shows promise in preventing esophageal cancer return
NCT ID NCT03322267
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether adding the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab after standard chemoradiotherapy and surgery could prevent cancer recurrence in 26 patients with high-risk esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Participants received cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy followed by 18 cycles of pembrolizumab. The main goal was to see if this approach improves the one-year relapse-free survival rate compared to historical data.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy drug) combined with cisplatin (chemotherapy) and radiation
What this could lead to
If successful, this combination could help prevent esophageal cancer from coming back after surgery, improving long-term survival.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-phase trial with only 26 participants and no comparison group, so results may not be conclusive. Immunotherapy can cause serious side effects like inflammation of organs.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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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.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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National Taiwan University Hospital
Taipei, 10002, Taiwan