Timing of immune checkpoint inhibitor infusion predicts survival in advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A retrospective cohort study

Wenjing Wang, Chengyuan Fan, Li Shen, Ruijie Ni, Lisha Ye, Weimin Mao, Wei Hong, Xiaoling Xu, Department of Medical Thoracic Oncology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine , Department of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital School of Medicine Tongji University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine , Emergency Department, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital School of Medicine Tongji University, Department of, School of Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University, Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Chinese Academy of Science, Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Science, Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine, Department of Thoracic Oncology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine , Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Thoracic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine

Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology

Published online on August 14, 2026

Abstract

Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology, Volume 18, January-December 2026.
BackgroundEsophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a highly lethal malignancy for which immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have improved outcomes, yet significant inter-patient variability in response persists. Emerging evidence suggests that ...