Abstract

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of Pembrolizumab in the treatment of recurrent - metastatic esophageal cancer at Cancer Center - Cho Ray hospital from 01/01/2023 to 31/03/2025.

Methods: A retrospective descriptive case series. A total of 21 patients diagnosed with recurrent/metastatic esophageal cancer through histopathology and imaging diagnosis were selected and received systematic treatment in combined with Pembrolizumab at Cancer Center - Chợ Rẫy Hospital from January 1, 2023, to March 31, 2025.

Results: The median age was 62 years. At the time of treatment, distant metastases were identified in 33.3% of patients. Pembrolizumab was administered as a first-line treatment in 80.9% of cases. The median progression-free survival was 9.5 months. At 3 months, the disease control rate was 47%, and the response rate was 33%. The most frequent hematologic toxicity was neutropenia, occurring in 41.2% of patients. The toxicity was mostly grade 1 and grade 2.

Conclusion: The systematic treatment in combine with Pembrolizumab demonstrated expected efficacy compared to clinical studies and real-world data in Asian patients with recurrent, metastatic esophageal cancer.