J Dig Cancer Res.  2024 Aug;12(2):72-81. 10.52927/jdcr.2024.12.2.72.

Immunotherapy for Advanced/Metastatic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• Kim SE
• Jung K
• Park MI

• KMID: 2559184
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.52927/jdcr.2024.12.2.72

Abstract

Esophageal squamous cell carcinomas constitute a major proportion of esophageal cancers in Korea. Conventional chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the options for treating advanced/ metastatic esophageal cancer, but the prognosis remains poor. Immunotherapy has significantly improved the prognosis of several advanced/metastatic cancers including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. In Korea, immunotherapy is used to treat advanced/metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and treatment results are expected to further improve. Immunotherapy is a term used to describe a treatment modality involving a biological/targeted agent that aims to enhance and restore the ability of the immune system to detect and destroy cancer cells by modifying or blocking co-stimulating signals. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer treatment with the administration of a single agent (monotherapy) or combinations of multiple agents, with the three approved agents being anti-PD-1 (programmed death 1), antiPD-L1 (programmed cell death ligand 1), and anti-CTLA4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated protein 4) monoclonal antibodies. Anti-PD-1 drugs including nivolumab and pembrolizumab have been mainly investigated for treating advanced/metastatic esophageal squamous cell cancer. Studies on their effectiveness in a neoadjuvant setting, a curative adjuvant setting, or as the first-line treatment for advanced or metastatic setting are ongoing. This review describes the principle of action, summary of existing clinical studies, and prospects for immune checkpoint inhibitors used in the treatment of advanced/metastatic esophageal squamous cell cancer.

Keyword

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Immunotherapy; Immune checkpoint inhibitors; Nivolumab; Pembrolizumab