Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41331921›Full record

ArticleBMC cancer2025

Study protocol of a randomized controlled phase II trial comparing nivolumab, ipilimumab plus radiotherapy versus nivolumab plus ipilimumab for advanced or recurrent esophageal cancer: Japan Clinical Oncology Group study JCOG2311 (ART NOUVEAU).

Katsuyuki Sakanaka, Keita Sasaki, Takahiro Tsushima, Ryunosuke Machida, Yoichi Hamai, Akinori Watanabe, Kota Kawabata, Satoru Matsuda, Ken Kato, Haruhiko Fukuda and 2 more

Abstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in BMC cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Katsuyuki SakanakaDepartment of Radiation Oncology and Image-Applied Therapy, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan. sakanaka@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1590-0250
Keita SasakiJapan Clinical Oncology Group Data Center/Operations Office, National Cancer Center Hospital, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Takahiro TsushimaDivision of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka, Japan.
Ryunosuke MachidaJapan Clinical Oncology Group Data Center/Operations Office, National Cancer Center Hospital, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Yoichi HamaiDepartment of Surgical Oncology, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan.
Akinori WatanabeDepartment of Gastroenterology Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.
Kota KawabataJapan Clinical Oncology Group Data Center/Operations Office, National Cancer Center Hospital, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Satoru MatsudaDepartment of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Ken KatoDepartment Head and Neck, Esophageal Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Haruhiko FukudaJapan Clinical Oncology Group Data Center/Operations Office, National Cancer Center Hospital, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Hiroya TakeuchiDepartment of Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan.
Japan Esophageal Oncology Group of the Japan Clinical Oncology Group

Funding

Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development JP25ck0106054Japan Society for the Promotion of Science JP24K02401
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe immunogenic cell death induced by radiotherapy (RT) has been demonstrated to enhance the systemic antitumor effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The incorporation of RT into ICIs has the potential to mitigate the occurrence of early treatment failure, particularly with dual ICI combination, in patients with advanced or recurrent esophageal cancer.

methodsThis randomized phase II trial, initiated in November 2024, aims to explore the superiority of the combination of RT with nivolumab plus ipilimumab over nivolumab plus ipilimumab alone in patients with advanced or recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival, while the secondary endpoints include overall survival, response rate, duration of response, and adverse events. We assumed a 6-month PFS of 35% in the nivolumab plus ipilimumab alone arm and expected a 15% increase in the 6-month PFS for the RT with nivolumab plus ipilimumab arm (HR, 0.66). The total required sample size was calculated to be 70 (35 per arm) to achieve a desired power of 80% with an overall one-sided alpha of 20%, an accrual period of 2.5 years, and a follow-up period of 1 year. A total of 74 patients will be enrolled from 41 institutions in Japan. An ancillary study analyzes cytokine profiles and phenotypic characteristics in peripheral blood mononuclear cells during treatment with the protocol. DISCUSSION: The objective of this trial is to assess the safety and efficacy of RT in combination with dual ICIs in reducing early treatment failure and improving outcomes with translational research. Findings from this trial will inform a future phase III trial in this patient population.

trial registrationThis trial has been registered on November 5th, 2024, in the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials as jRCT1031240461 ( https://jrct.mhlw.go.jp/en-latest-detail/jRCT1031240461 ).

Indexed as

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsEsophageal NeoplasmsEsophageal Squamous Cell CarcinomaIpilimumabNeoplasm Recurrence, LocalNivolumabChemoradiotherapyClinical Trials, Phase II as TopicEquivalence Trials as TopicFemaleHumansJapanProgression-Free SurvivalIpilimumabNivolumabEsophageal squamous cell carcinomaIpilimumabNivolumabRadiotherapy

Identifiers

PMID41331921
PMCPMC12781585

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.