Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Oesophageal cancer (EC) is a major global health issue, ranking seventh in incidence and the sixth foremost cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide in 2020. 1 Recent data show a concerning increase in the incidence and mortality of EC, with Asia contributing to nearly 80% of the global cases.This increase is significantly straining healthcare systems, especially in nations with lower and moderate incomes.2 Cytotoxic chemotherapy, either as a standalone treatment or in conjunction with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), is the preferred initial therapy for advanced or metastatic unresectable solid tumours of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.3 For individuals with advanced gastroesophageal junction cancers (GEJCs), chemotherapy is often ineffective with most patients surviving less than a year after treatment.Additionally, they must endure severe side effects.Japanese patients with advanced EC typically have an average survival of only 8.1 months following chemotherapy.It is crucial to find more effective and tolerable treatment options that are more effective and easier to tolerate.4 A recent clinical trial conducted solely in China has introduced a revolutionary regimen devoid of chemotherapy.3 It combines toripalimab, a PD-1 inhibitor, with surufatinib, a multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), demonstrating significant anti-tumour effects alongside manageable side effects.A total of 60 patients were included in the study between 17 December 2019, and 29 January 2021: 20 with gastric cancer (GC) / GEJCs and another 20 with oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs).By 28 February 2023, the objective response rates were 31.6% for GC / GEJCs and 30.0%for ESCCs.The median progression-free survival was 4.1 months for GC / GEJCs and 2.7 months for ESCCs, with median overall survival recorded at 13.7 months for GC / GEJCs and 10.4 months for ESCCs.
Authors: Maham Zaman, Efrah Ashraf, Vikash Kumar Karmani
Institution: Quaid-e-Azam Medical College
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4403474752