The efficacy and safety of nanoparticle albumin bound-paclitaxel-based regimen as second- or third-line treatment in patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

backgroundThere are limited reports on nanoparticle albumin bound-paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) regimens as second- or third-line treatments for advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Additionally, its safety and efficacy in ESCC patients after failure of first-line programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) blockade plus chemotherapy have not been reported. In this study, we aimed to assess the efficacy and tolerability of nab-paclitaxel regimens as second- or later-line treatment in advanced ESCC.

methodsWe retrospectively reviewed clinical data of advanced ESCC patients who participated in a randomized phase III clinical study and received serplulimab or placebo plus chemotherapy at our institution, and consecutive patients who received subsequent nab-paclitaxel-based regimens as second- or later-line treatment were included for data collection and analysis.

resultsA total of 39 patients were included, 25 (64.1%) received serplulimab plus chemotherapy and 14 (35.9%) received chemotherapy alone as first-line treatment. Treatment strategies included nab-paclitaxel monotherapy (7/39, 17.9%), or in combination with other chemotherapy (19/39, 48.7%), with anti-PD-1 antibodies (12/39, 30.8%) or with nimotuzumab (1/39, 2.6%). Overall, the objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 33.3% (13/39) and 61.5% (24/39), respectively. With a median follow-up of 9.7 months, the median progression-free survival and median overall survival were 5.0 and 7.9 months, respectively. The most common adverse events were neuropathy peripheral (30.8%), anemia (30.8%), neutrophil count decreased (23.1%), and nausea (20.5%).

conclusionsNab-paclitaxel-based regimen could be a safe and effective option as second- or later-line treatment in patients with advanced ESCC, regardless of their previous exposure to PD-1 inhibitors.