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Research Article: Preliminary exploration of the optimal timing of chemoimmunotherapy combined with radiotherapy for oligometastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and analysis of prognostic factors: a multicenter retrospective study

Date Published: 2026-05-18

Abstract:
To explore the optimal timing of chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) combined with radiotherapy (RT) for oligometastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and analyze prognostic factors. In this multicenter, retrospective study, we reviewed 142 patients with oligometastatic ESCC who received first-line RT and CIT between 2019 and 2024. Based on the timing of RT initiation relative to CIT, patients were categorized into three groups: RT-first (n=27), Concurrent (RT within the first 4 cycles of CIT, n=87), and Sequential (RT after 4 cycles of CIT, n=28). Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and multivariable Cox regression were utilized to mitigate baseline confounding. Following IPTW adjustment, baseline characteristics were well-balanced. The Concurrent group demonstrated a significantly superior overall survival (OS) compared to the RT-first and Sequential groups (median OS: 22.7 vs. 21.0 vs. 18.1 months, respectively; P = 0.018). Multivariable analysis confirmed that the concurrent strategy was an independent protective factor for OS (HR = 0.595, 95% CI: 0.354–0.999, P = 0.049). Progression-free survival (PFS) and anatomical patterns of first failure did not differ significantly among the three cohorts. Furthermore, the incidence of Grade ? 3 treatment-related adverse events was comparable across all groups (P > 0.05). In patients with oligometastatic ESCC, concurrent integration of RT within the early cycles of first-line chemoimmunotherapy is significantly associated with prolonged overall survival, without increasing severe toxicity, compared to upfront or delayed RT. These findings provide compelling real-world evidence to guide optimal treatment sequencing, warranting further validation in prospective trials.

Introduction:
According to the 2022 National Cancer Report, Esophageal Cancer (EC) remains a major public health burden in China, ranking as the seventh most common malignancy and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality in China ( 1 ). Due to its insidious onset, the majority of patients are diagnosed at a locally advanced or metastatic stage. Even with guideline-recommended first-line therapies, the median overall survival (mOS) remains poor, typically ranging from 12.4 to 17.2 months ( 2 ). Oligometastatic EC is…

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