Identifying Predictive Factors for Nivolumab Efficacy in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Strategic Insights -

Research conducted by Takeshi Toyozumi and his team at Chiba University in Japan has identified potential factors associated with the treatment response of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) to nivolumab, a cancer immunotherapy. The study aimed to predict the efficacy of nivolumab based on these factors, particularly in patients who received nivolumab after radical chemoradiotherapy.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study analyzed the response of 22 patients to nivolumab and identified six variables associated with the treatment efficacy, including body weight, white blood cells, basophils, platelets, albumin, and C-reactive protein.
  • Patients with three or more favorable variables based on these cut-off values had a significantly better treatment response, with nine patients in the partial response (PR) and stable disease (SD) group having three or more favorable variables.
  • In contrast, patients with two or fewer favorable variables were more likely to have a poor treatment response, with 13 patients in the progressive disease (PD) group having two or fewer.
  • The study suggests that these six variables may be useful as biomarkers to predict the efficacy of nivolumab in ESCC patients.
  • The researchers recommend further studies to validate these findings and explore their clinical application.

Statistics:

  • 22 patients were involved in the study, with 9 patients classified into the PR + SD group and 13 patients classified into the PD group.
  • The variables associated with treatment efficacy were body weight (53.5 kg), white blood cells (5,000/mm), basophils (0.6%), platelets (145x10/mm), albumin (3.9 m g/dl), and C-reactive protein (0.10 mg/dl) as cut-off values determined using the Youden index.
  • 53.5 kg was the cut-off value for body weight, 5,000/mm for white blood cells, 0.6% for basophils, 145x10/mm for platelets, 3.9 m g/dl for albumin, and 0.10 mg/dl for C-reactive protein.

Sources:

  • Toyozumi, T., Sekino, N., Murakami, K., et al. (2025). Patient background and laboratory variables associated with the efficacy of nivolumab after chemoradiotherapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Molecular and Clinical Oncology, 23(4), 90.
  • NewsRx. (2025, September 19). Researchers from Chiba University Detail New Studies and Findings in the Area of Squamous Cell Carcinoma (Patient background and laboratory variables associated with the efficacy of nivolumab after chemoradiotherapy in esophageal squamous cell ...). Drug Week, p 6460.