Oncolytic Virus in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Launched by SICHUAN UNIVERSITY · Jul 8, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is testing a new treatment for a type of esophageal cancer called esophageal squamous cell carcinoma that cannot be removed by surgery at the time of diagnosis. The study combines three approaches: a special virus designed to attack cancer cells (called an oncolytic virus), chemotherapy (cancer-killing drugs), and a medicine that helps the immune system fight cancer (an immune checkpoint inhibitor). The main goals are to see if this combination is safe and if it can help patients live longer without their cancer getting worse. Researchers will also look at overall survival, how well the cancer responds to treatment, and how the treatment affects quality of life.

People who may be able to join are adults aged 18 to 80 who have this specific type of esophageal cancer that has spread to nearby lymph nodes in the neck. Participants need to be healthy enough to handle treatment, able to provide fresh tumor samples, and willing to follow the study’s schedule and rules. Those who have already had certain cancer treatments, serious health problems, or other cancers are not eligible. If you join, you will receive the new combination treatment and be closely monitored for side effects and how well the treatment is working. This early-phase trial is still recruiting patients and aims to find out if this new approach is promising enough to study further.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • A. Age 18-80 years B. Diagnosed with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) accompanied by cervical lymph node metastases.
• • C. Ability to provide fresh tumor tissue samples (baseline) D. Normal major organ function E. Performance status (PS) score ≤ 1 F. Patients of childbearing potential must use contraception G. Voluntary participation with signed informed consent H. Able to comply with the study protocol, follow-up schedule, and other protocol requirements.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • A. Received prior antitumor chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immunotherapy before the first-line treatment.
• • B. High risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, esophageal fistula, or esophageal perforation C. Poor nutritional status D. Immune-related adverse events during prior radical treatment, such as Grade ≥3 pneumonitis, myocarditis, etc.
• • E. Signs and symptoms of interstitial diseases F. Presence of any severe and/or uncontrolled medical conditions G. Presence of concurrent malignancies H. Presence of other autoimmune diseases, or prolonged use of immunosuppressants or steroids I. Difficulty in patient communication or inability to comply with long-term follow-up J. Other conditions deemed unsuitable by the investigator