Low-Dose Involved-Field Radiotherapy Plus Immunochemotherapy for ESCC

Overview

The aim of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether low-dose involved-field radiotherapy combined with immunochemotherapy can reduce treatment-related adverse effects, enhance progression-free survival (PFS), and improve overall survival (OS) in patients with locally advanced, unresectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The key questions this study seeks to address are: * Can low-dose involved-field radiotherapy combined with immunochemotherapy reduce treatment-related adverse effects? * Does this combined approach improve PFS and OS in these patients? Participants in the study will: * Undergo an endoscopy at West China Hospital to confirm their diagnosis. * Receive a treatment regimen that includes low-dose radiotherapy at 45.0 Gy in 1.8 Gy per fraction over 25 fractions, alongside immunochemotherapy, with three cycles of chemotherapy administered every 3 weeks. * After completing the full treatment regimen, participants will undergo regular follow-up visits and monitoring by healthcare professionals.

This is a single-arm, single-center, prospective clinical study aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of low-dose involved-field radiotherapy combined with immunochemotherapy in patients with locally advanced, unresectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The study will enroll subjects with pathologically confirmed ESCC (via histology or cytology), clinically staged as cT1-4aN+M0, who are deemed unsuitable for surgical intervention by the investigators or have declined surgical treatment. Initially, patients will receive one cycle of induction immunochemotherapy consisting of paclitaxel or nab-paclitaxel plus carboplatin, in combination with camrelizumab administered at 200 mg intravenously every three weeks. On the first day of the second chemotherapy cycle, low-dose involved-field radiotherapy will commence. The radiotherapy protocol involves a total dose of 45.0 Gy delivered in 25 fractions of 1.8 Gy each (45.0 Gy/1.8 Gy per fraction over 25 fractions). The clinical target volume (CTV) is defined by extending the gross tumor volume (GTV) 3 cm superiorly and inferiorly, and 0.5 cm anteriorly, posteriorly, and laterally; for involved lymph nodes (GTVn), a 0.5 cm margin is added in all directions. Following disease stabilization, patients will continue with maintenance therapy using camrelizumab monotherapy for up to one year or until disease progression, as assessed by RECIST 1.1 criteria, or the emergence of intolerable adverse effects. Upon completion of treatment, subjects will undergo routine follow-up according to standard care protocols to document survival status and long-term adverse reactions. The study utilizes a historical control one-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate of 34% from definitive chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced ESCC. It is hypothesized that the combination of camrelizumab with dual-agent chemotherapy (paclitaxel or nab-paclitaxel plus carboplatin) and sequential low-dose involved-field radiotherapy will improve the 12-month PFS rate to 52%. Based on a two-sided significance level (α) of 0.05 and a power (1-β) of 80%, the required sample size is calculated to be 37 patients. Accounting for a 10% dropout rate, a total of 41 patients will be enrolled in the study.