Consolidation of Toripalimab After Chemoradiotherapy in Elderly Esophageal Cancer (EC-CRT-007)

Although definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is the standard treatment option for unresectable locally advanced esophageal cancer, elderly patients tolerate intravenous concurrent CRT less well with age and comorbidities. Previous trials have demonstrated that CRT with oral S-1 was tolerable and provided significant survival benefits over radiotherapy alone in elderly patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, as high as 54% of patients with elderly ESCC experienced locoregional or distant recurrence after CRT. Therefore, a more effective regimen for older patients is needed. Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting PD-1/PD-L1 have shown substantial clinical benefits in advanced esophageal cancer. Recently, the combination of immunotherapy with CRT has emerged as a promising strategy to improve clinical outcomes in locally advanced esophageal cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of toripalimab (an anti-PD-1 antibody) after concurrent CRT in elderly patients with locally advanced ESCC.