Tislelizumab Superior to Second-Line Chemotherapy in Esophageal Squamous Cancer

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have advanced in the treatment of metastatic squamous cancer of the esophagus, with regulatory approval for nivolumab and pembrolizumab in second-line treatment and recent approval for the addition of pembrolizumab to chemotherapy in first-line treatment. There is ongoing debate about the benefit of these agents in patients with low combined positive scores.

Investigators now report results of the RATIONALE-302 trial, a multinational, industry-sponsored, open-label, phase 3 trial comparing the anti–PD-1 antibody tislelizumab to chemotherapy in the second-line treatment of metastatic squamous cancer of the esophagus. Of 512 patients randomized to tislelizumab or investigator's choice of docetaxel, paclitaxel, or i…