Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 1INTERVENTIONAL

Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Combined With Chemotherapy Sequenced With Endoscopic Resection for Esophageal Cancer (Endosurgery-02)

Safety and Feasibility of Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Combined With Chemotherapy Sequenced With Endoscopic Resection for Esophageal Cancer (Endosurgery-02)

Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Combined With Chemotherapy Sequenced With Endoscopic Resection for Esophageal Cancer (Endosurgery-02) (NCT07317609) is a Phase 1 interventional studying Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC), sponsored by Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

About This Trial

This single-center, prospective, single-arm study will evaluate whether giving neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy can safely shrink esophageal cancer and allow organ-preserving endoscopic removal in selected patients. Adults with esophageal cancer will receive at least two 3-week cycles of a PD-1 inhibitor (tislelizumab 200 mg on Day 1) plus carboplatin (AUC 3-5, Day 1) and nab-paclitaxel (≤260 mg/m², Day 1). During treatment, routine safety tests are performed. About 3-4 weeks after completing at least two cycles, participants undergo clinical reassessment with examinations and imaging (such as endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, PET/CT or CT of the neck, chest, and upper abdomen) to evaluate tumor shrinkage and possible spread. Tumor response is assessed using RECIST 1.1. If a clinical complete response is achieved without obvious nodal disease, endoscopic resection may be performed to preserve the esophagus; otherwise, patients may proceed to surgery or concurrent chemoradiation per clinical judgment. The study focuses on feasibility and safety of this organ-preserving approach and describes tumor responses after therapy. Potential benefits include tumor shrinkage and avoiding major surgery in selected cases; risks include side effects of standard chemotherapy/immunotherapy and procedure-related discomforts from biopsies or endoscopic treatments.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 1 trials test a new treatment for the first time in humans, focusing on safety, dosing, and how the body processes the drug. For Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC), a Phase 1 study typically enrolls a small number of participants — often healthy volunteers or patients who have exhausted standard treatment options. Phase 1 results determine whether a treatment moves into larger Phase 2 efficacy studies.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

Target enrollment of 60 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC) subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language

Cohort A - Potentially resectable ESCC: Inclusion Criteria： 1. Age range: 18-80 years old; 2. Patients diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) through histopathological examination of biopsy tissues from the primary tumor; 3. Patients with potentially resectable esophageal cancer confirmed by imaging and endoscopic examinations (T1b-3, N0, M0, with a tumor size not exceeding 5 cm and occupying less than 2/3 of the luminal circumference); Patients who have not received any antitumor treatment, including but not limited to surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy; 4. Patients with a preoperative Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score of 0 or 1; 5. Patients with a preoperative American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification of I-III; 6. Female patients of reproductive age should have a negative pregnancy test and be willing to use effective contraceptive methods during the study period; 7. Patients who have signed the informed consent form. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients with potential tracheoesophageal fistula or aortoesophageal fistula; 2. Patients with severe malnutrition or requiring tube feeding; 3. Patients with other malignancies that have not been cured within the past 2 years (except for cured basal cell carcinoma of the skin and cured carcinoma in situ of the cervix); 4. Patients with active autoimmune diseases or a history of autoimmune diseases or symptoms that require systemic corticosteroid treatment or anti-autoimmune drug therapy; 5. Immunocompromised patients, or patients who are still receiving systemic steroids (prednisone \> 10 mg/day or equivalent) or other forms of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days before the first dose of neoadjuvant therapy in this study; 6. Patients with active infections requiring systemic treatment within 7 days before the first neoadjuvant therapy in this study; 7. Patients with a history of allogeneic organ or stem cell transplantation; 8. Patients with allergies to drugs or related components involved in this study; 9. Patients who are currently participating in any other clinical study. Cohort B - Surgery-contraindicated ESCC: Inclusion Criteria: 1. Individuals aged above 18 years; 2. Patients diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma through histopathological examination of biopsy tissues from the primary tumor; 3. Patients with esophageal cancer deemed as surgically contraindicated (including those with cervical esophageal cancer, surgical contraindications, those who refuse surgery, or those considered high-risk for esophagectomy, defined as having at least one of the following characteristics: (1) age over 75 years, (2) Charlson comorbidity index \>= 2, (3) presence of moderate lung dysfunction, (4) malnutrition (with a body mass index below 18 kg/m\^2)), with a clinical staging of cT1b-3N0M0, a tumor size not exceeding 5 cm, and occupying less than 2/3 of the luminal circumference; 4. Patients who have not undergone any antitumor treatment, including but not limited to surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy; 5. Female patients of reproductive age should have a negative pregnancy test and be willing to adopt effective contraceptive measures during the study period; 6. Patients who have signed the informed consent form. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients with allergies to the drugs or related components involved in this study; 2. Patients who are currently participating in any other clinical study.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Tislelizumab

Fixed-dose anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody 200 mg IV on Day 1 of each 3-week cycle (Q3W) as neoadjuvant therapy, administered before any local resection. Given for ≥2 cycles unless contraindicated. Used in combination with carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel in a single-arm regimen; no placebo or comparator.

DRUG

Carboplatin

Intervention Description: AUC 3-5 IV on Day 1, Q3W, for ≥2 cycles in combination with tislelizumab and nab-paclitaxel as neoadjuvant therapy.

DRUG

Nab-paclitaxel

≤260 mg/m² IV on Day 1, Q3W (\~30-min infusion) for ≥2 cycles, combined with tislelizumab and carboplatin in the neoadjuvant regimen.

PROCEDURE

Endoscopic resection

Endoscopic resection (e.g., ESD/EFTR) performed 3-6 weeks after completing ≥2 neoadjuvant cycles only if clinical complete response (cCR) is achieved without clear nodal metastasis, based on endoscopy/EUS and imaging. Technique follows institutional standards with curative intent and margin assessment.

PROCEDURE

Esophagectomy

Standard surgical esophagectomy (McKeown/Ivor-Lewis procedures) for participants not meeting cCR criteria or deemed unsuitable for endoscopic resection after reassessment. Conducted per institutional standard of care, with lymphadenectomy as appropriate.

RADIATION

Concurrent chemoradiation

Concurrent chemoradiation per institutional standard for participants not eligible for endoscopic resection and managed non-surgically after reassessment. External-beam radiation delivered with concurrent platinum-taxane chemotherapy as clinically indicated; specific dose/fractionation per treating radiation oncologist.

Locations (1)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT07317609), the sponsor (Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT07317609 clinical trial studying?

Who can participate in NCT07317609?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT07317609?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT07317609. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT07317609. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.