FRONTiER: A feasibility trial of nivolumab with neoadjuvant CF or DCF, FLOT therapy for locally advanced esophageal carcinoma (JCOG1804E)—Primary safety and short-term efficacy results for cohort E.
Authors: Yoshii Takako , Yamamoto Shun , Kato Ken , Daiko Hiroyuki , Hara Hiroki , Kojima Takashi , Abe Tetsuya , Tsubosa Yasuhiro , Kawakubo Hirofumi , Fujita Takeo , Kadowaki Shigenori , Tsushima Takahiro , Matsuda Satoru , Nagashima Kengo , Aoki Kazunori , Yachida Shinichi , Kitagawa Yuko 
Published: January 2024

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Background: The standard neoadjuvant treatment in Japan for resectable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is DTX + CDDP + 5-FU (DCF). In addition, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown a survival benefit for ESCC and are promising as neoadjuvant treatment for several cancers. We previously reported that neoadjuvant CDDP + 5-FU + nivolumab (Nivo) or DCF + Nivo therapy was tolerable and showed promising efficacy for ESCC. However, the efficacy of neoadjuvant treatment and safety of subsequent surgery remain unclear for 5-FU + l-LV + L-OHP + DTX (FLOT), the global standard of care for perioperative esophagogastric adenocarcinoma, plus ICI for ESCC. Methods: JCOG1804E (FRONTiER) is a multi-cohort phase I study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Nivo combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in ESCC. The eligibility criteria were histologically proven ESCC staged as cT1N1-3M0 or cT2-3N0-3M0 (8th UICC TNM classification), age 20-75 years, performance status (PS) ≤1, and no prior cancer therapy. The primary endpoint was the incidence of dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) from the initial dose to postoperative day 30. The secondary endpoints included adverse events during the perioperative period and at 30 days and the objective response rate, R0 resection rate, histopathological complete response rate, and completion rate of the protocol treatment including planned chemotherapy as below followed by R0 resection. Among five study cohorts, patients in cohort E were planned to receive four courses of FLOT+Nivo–5-FU (2600 mg/m2), l-LV (200 mg/m2), L-OHP (85 mg/m2), DTX (50 mg/m2), and Nivo (240 mg)–on day 1 every 2 weeks. Results: Of the 12 patients enrolled in cohort E (median age [range]: 64.5 [53-71] years, PS 0/1: 12/0, clinical stage I/II/III/IVA: 4/5/3/0), 4 developed DLT (grade 3 mucositis, erythema multiforme, and pneumonitis, n=1 each; grade 5 pneumonitis, n=1), which was within the prespecified range of safety (n ≤ 4). Other grades≥3 adverse events were neutropenia (n=7), leukopenia (n=6), fever, fatigue, febrile neutropenia, rash, elevated amylase, elevated hepatic enzyme, hypotension, and thrombocytopenia (n=1 each) during FLOT + Nivo, and anastomotic leakage (n=1) during the postoperative period. One patient discontinued FLOT + Nivo due to DLT of erythema multiforme, eleven patients (91.7%) completed the protocol treatment and R0 resection rate achieved 91.7% (11/12). In cohort E, the objective response rate in patients with measurable lesion was 0% (0/4). However, 5 patients (41.7%) achieved a pathological complete response, and 6 (50.0%) achieved a pathological complete response in primary tumors among 12 patients. Conclusions: Neoadjuvant FLOT + Nivo followed by surgery for locally advanced ESCC was tolerated and showed promising efficacy. Clinical trial information: NCT03914443 .