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Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting tumor-cell PD-L1 have been approved to combine with first-line chemotherapy in advanced esophagogastric cancer and esophageal squamous cell cancer. Alternative checkpoint inhibitors are also yielding positive results in first-line trials. Investigators now report results from CheckMate 648, an open-label, industry-sponsored, phase 3 trial of first-line immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. A total of 970 patients received one of three regimens: a 4-week cycle of chemotherapy alone (intravenous fluorouracil/cisplatin), chemotherapy plus nivolumab, or nivolumab plus ipilimumab. Patients' median age was 64, 70% were treated in Asia, half had PD-L1 expres…