Pembrolizumab: first anti-PD-1/L1-based regimen for first-line treatment of advanced esophageal cancer in Japan.

Pembrolizumab plus doublet chemotherapy is now an established first-line treatment for advanced EC in Japan. Recently, nivolumab plus doublet chemotherapy and nivolumab plus ipilimumab have also become first-line treatment options for patients with advanced ESCC. Further investigations are needed to identify biomarkers that would be useful for selecting candidates for these treatments.