New drug combo aims to shrink esophageal tumors before surgery

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

Inclusion Criteria: * Be able and willing to provide written informed consent and to comply with all requirements of study participation (including all study procedures). * ≥18 years old and ≤ 75 years (regardless of sex). * Pathologically confirmed esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, assessed as resectable. * Adequate pulmonary function. * Adequate tumor tissue samples. * ECOG performance status of 0-1. * Adequate organ function. * Within 7 days prior to the first dose, women of childbearing potential must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test and agree to use effective contraception during the study treatment period and for 120 days after the last dose. Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of suspected distant metastatic lesions, or locally advanced unresectable disease. * Histologically confirmed as other pathological types. * Previous surgery precludes the use of gastric substitution for esophageal reconstruction in the current procedure. * History of other malignant tumors within the past 5 years. * Within 4 weeks prior to randomization, presence of conditions such as severe esophagogastric varices, active ulcers, unhealed wounds, gastrointestinal perforation, or intestinal obstruction. * Active or documented history of inflammatory bowel disease. * Clinically symptomatic or recurrent pleural, pericardial, or ascitic fluid requiring drainage. * Uncontrolled concurrent illnesses. * Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease within 4 weeks prior to randomization. * History of myocardial infarction, unstable angina, congestive heart failure within 12 months prior to day 1 of study treatment. * History of severe bleeding tendency or coagulation dysfunction. * Arterial thromboembolic events within 6 months prior to randomization. * History or current presence of non-infectious pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease requiring systemic glucocorticoids. * Known psychiatric disorders, drug abuse, or substance addiction. * Pregnant or lactating women. * Prior systemic or local antitumor therapy for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. * Systemic non-specific immunomodulatory therapy within 2 weeks prior to randomization. * Major surgery or severe trauma within 4 weeks prior to randomization. * Known allergy to any component of the investigational drug(s). * Active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment within 2 years prior to randomization. * Active hepatitis B infection. * Known active tuberculosis. * Severe infections within 4 weeks prior to randomization. * History of immunodeficiency or positive HIV test. * Known active syphilis infection. * Live vaccination within 4 weeks prior to randomization or planned during the study. * History of allogeneic organ transplantation or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. * Is currently participating in a study of an investigational agent or using an investigational device.