Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy and MK-3475 for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ACTS-29)

Summary

In this study, participants with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma will receive preoperative chemoradiotherapy with paclitaxel,carboplatin and pembrolizumab then undergo surgery. The primary study hypothesis is that adding pembrolizumab will increase complete pathologic response rate at surgery.

Timeline

Start

2017-01

Primary completion

2021-03-09

Completion

2021-04-26

Outcome

Missed primary endpoint

paper Although the pCR rate did not meet the prespecified threshold, the treatment regimen was safe and feasible, but its efficacy was lower than expected. PMID 41449287 ↗

Publications

• Hong MH, Shin SK, Choi SJ, Ahn BC, Kim HR, Park SY, Kim DJ, Lee CG, Cho J, Kim JH, Kim HR, Kim YH, Lee GT, Park SR, Lee SK, Cho BC. Preoperative chemoradiotherapy plus pembrolizumab for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ACTS-29). Esophagus. 2026 Jan;23(1):99-110. doi: 10.1007/s10388-025-01165-0. Epub 2025 Dec 25.

Drugs

Indications