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Disease

Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Late-stage therapeutic developmentEmerging research
MeSHEsophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
2
Publications
23
Clinical trials
1
Related conditions
12
Associated genes
11
Related proteins
2021
Latest publication
Current focus
Caspase-9 biologyNicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase biologyTherapeutic development
Latest activity
beta

Recent clinical, regulatory, research and industry developments relating to this disease.

A Phase III, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Atezolizumab With or Without Tiragolumab (Anti-TIGIT Antibody) in Patients With Unresectable Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Whose Cancers Have Not Progressed Following Definitive Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy

Clinical trial2026-09-14Status changed to Completed · ClinicalTrials.gov

Characterizing the Radiochemical and Radiation Safety of RAD301 in Healthy Human Volunteers and Patients With Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma or Other Solid Tumors

Clinical trial2026-09-14Status changed to Active, not recruiting · ClinicalTrials.gov

Induction Immuno-chemotherapy and Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy With or Without Apatinib in Unresectable, Locally Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: a Open-label, Randomized, Controlled Phase II Clinical Trial

Clinical trial2026-08-03Status changed to Completed · ClinicalTrials.gov

A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Phase 3 Trial of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) Versus Placebo in Participants With Esophageal Carcinoma Receiving Concurrent Definitive Chemoradiotherapy (KEYNOTE 975)

Clinical trial2026-07-22Status changed to Completed · ClinicalTrials.gov

Randomized Phase III Trial of Standard Immunotherapy (IO) by Checkpoint Inhibitors, Versus Reduced Dose Intensity of IO in Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Cancer in Response After 6 Months of Standard IO

Clinical trial2026-07-17Status changed to Active, not recruiting · ClinicalTrials.gov

Marketing authorisation: Hetronifly (EMA)

Regulatory2025-02-03EMA

Marketing authorisation: Loqtorzi (EMA)

Regulatory2024-09-19EMA

Marketing authorisation: Tevimbra (EMA)

Regulatory2023-09-15EMA

What's happening now

An analyst briefing on current research, clinical, regulatory and industry activity surrounding this disease.

Executive briefingUpdating summary…Momentum: Moderate
Key developments
  • 3 clinical trials expected to report results, the earliest in Q2 2028.
  • 2 industry developments reported.
Upcoming Milestones
Clinical Milestones6View
Results posted 2
Results expected 3
Recently completed 1
Industry & Market2View
Activity timeline8

Clinical trials

16 sponsors · 2 new · 2 completed in the last 12 months (net +2)

The current development programme across all trial phases.

Clinical programme
23
All trials
6
Active
12
Late-stage
6
Completed
Late-stage studies

A Phase 3, Multicenter, Randomized, Open-label Study of Ifinatamab Deruxtecan (I-DXd) in Subjects With Pretreated Advanced or Metastatic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC) (IDeate-Esophageal01)

Phase 3 · Recruiting · Daiichi Sankyo

Optimizing Neoadjuvant Treatment Regimens for Locally Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Phase II Clinical Study

Phase 2/3 · Recruiting · Peking Union Medical College Hospital

A Randomized, Open-Label, Multicenter Phase III Study of QLC5508 Versus Investigator's Choice Chemotherapy in Pretreated Participants With Advanced or Metastatic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC)

Phase 3 · Recruiting · Qilu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

The Prospective Study of Sintilimab Combination With Chemotherapy Sequential Radiotherapy for Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Phase 2/3 · Recruiting · Qingdao Central Hospital

A Randomized, Controlled, Open-label, Multicenter Phase III Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of KC1036 Versus Investigator's Choice of Chemotherapy as Third-line Therapy in Patients With Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Phase 3 · Recruiting · Beijing Konruns Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

A Phase III, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Atezolizumab With or Without Tiragolumab (Anti-TIGIT Antibody) in Patients With Unresectable Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Whose Cancers Have Not Progressed Following Definitive Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy

Phase 3 · Completed · Hoffmann-La Roche
Recruiting

A Phase 3, Multicenter, Randomized, Open-label Study of Ifinatamab Deruxtecan (I-DXd) in Subjects With Pretreated Advanced or Metastatic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC) (IDeate-Esophageal01)

Phase 3 · Recruiting · Daiichi Sankyo

Optimizing Neoadjuvant Treatment Regimens for Locally Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Phase II Clinical Study

Phase 2/3 · Recruiting · Peking Union Medical College Hospital

A Randomized, Open-Label, Multicenter Phase III Study of QLC5508 Versus Investigator's Choice Chemotherapy in Pretreated Participants With Advanced or Metastatic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC)

Phase 3 · Recruiting · Qilu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

The Prospective Study of Sintilimab Combination With Chemotherapy Sequential Radiotherapy for Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Phase 2/3 · Recruiting · Qingdao Central Hospital

A Randomized, Controlled, Open-label, Multicenter Phase III Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of KC1036 Versus Investigator's Choice of Chemotherapy as Third-line Therapy in Patients With Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Phase 3 · Recruiting · Beijing Konruns Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

A Randomized, Controlled, Multi-center Phase II/III Clinical Trial of Perioperative Cadonilimab Combined With Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients With Resectable Locally Advanced Thoracic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC)

Phase 2 · Recruiting · Akeso
Recently completed

A Phase III, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Atezolizumab With or Without Tiragolumab (Anti-TIGIT Antibody) in Patients With Unresectable Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Whose Cancers Have Not Progressed Following Definitive Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy

Phase 3 · Completed · Hoffmann-La Roche

A Phase 3, Randomized Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) + Lenvatinib (E7080/MK-7902) + Chemotherapy Compared With Standard of Care as First-line Intervention in Participants With Metastatic Esophageal Carcinoma.

Phase 3 · Completed · Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Tislelizumab (BGB-A317) Versus Placebo in Combination With Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy in Patients With Localized Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Phase 3 · Completed · BeiGene

A Multi-Center, Double-Blind, Randomized, Phase III Study to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of CS1001 in Combination With Fluorouracil and Cisplatin (FP) Compared to Placebo in Combination With FP as First-Line Therapy in Subjects With Unresectable Locally Advanced, Recurrent or Metastatic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC)

Phase 3 · Completed · CStone Pharmaceuticals

A Prospective Clinical Trial of Improving the Treatment of Thoracic Esophageal Cancer

Phase 3 · Completed · Sun Yat-sen University

A Comparison of Paclitaxel in Combination With Cisplatin(TP), Carboplatin(TC) or Fluorouracil(TF) Concurrent With Radiotherapy for Patients With Local Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Three-Arm Randomized Phase III Trial

Phase 3 · Completed · Fudan University

Research activity

2 papers

Key research shaping understanding of this disease, combining the latest publications with the most influential evidence.

Publications over time
2020–2021
Leading journals2
  • JAMA1
  • Molecular cancer1
Leading researchers8
  • Zhang X2
  • Ba Y1
  • Bai Y1
  • Chen X1
  • Chen Z1
  • Cheng Y1
  • Cui W1
  • Fan Q1
Affiliations (unnormalised)6
  • 900 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force1
  • Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University1
  • Anhui Chest Hospital1
  • Army Medical Center of PLA1
  • Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences1
  • Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences1

Associated genes

12 matches

Genes associated with this disease in the canonical knowledge graph (Open Targets evidence). Number shows the association score.

PDCD10.61CD2740.48RNF60.47WWOX0.43LZTS10.42NFE2L20.40BRD40.40TIGIT0.35HOXA130.30BCL30.29TLX30.28STING10.24

Disease biology

11 matches

Proteins whose encoding gene is associated with this disease, reached through the canonical gene→disease graph. Number shows the gene's association score.

Programmed cell death protein 1via PDCD10.61Programmed cell death 1 ligand 1via CD2740.48Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2via NFE2L20.40Tyrosine-protein phosphatase non-receptor type 6via PTPN60.19Caspase-9via CASP90.19Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferasevia NAMPT0.17Polyunsaturated fatty acid lipoxygenase ALOX12via ALOX120.10Sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2via SREBF20.09Serine/threonine-protein kinase 3via STK30.08Lysosome-associated membrane glycoprotein 3via LAMP30.08C-C motif chemokine 17via CCL170.08

Related conditions

1 match

Diseases frequently studied alongside this one. Number shows shared papers.

Esophageal Neoplasms2

Reference

Authoritative identity, definition & identifiers.

Defined in MeSH

A carcinoma that originates usually from cells on the surface of the middle and lower third of the ESOPHAGUS. Tumor cells exhibit typical squamous morphology and form large polypoid lesions. Mutations in RNF6, LZTS1, TGFBR2, DEC1, and WWOX1 genes are associated with this cancer.

Identifiers
MeSHEsophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
References & data sources
  • Disease identity & definition — NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), public domain
  • Clinical trials — ClinicalTrials.gov (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
  • Research activity — Europe PMC (EMBL-EBI) + OpenAlex-derived paper links
  • Related entities are derived from literature co-mention (studied together) — associative, not causal.