chemotherapy + tislelizumab

This combination treatment regimen, known as the RICE regimen in clinical trials, consists of induction chemotherapy (typically paclitaxel and cisplatin) paired with the PD-1 inhibitor tislelizumab, followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) and maintenance tislelizumab. Developed as an investigator-initiated study at Shanghai Chest Hospital, it is specifically designed for patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Tislelizumab is a humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody that targets the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) receptor, blocking its interaction with PD-L1 and PD-L2 to enhance T-cell anti-tumor responses. The addition of chemotherapy serves to debulk the tumor and potentially increase its immunogenicity before the administration of definitive chemoradiotherapy.

Brand names

Tevimbra

Other names

chemotherapy + PD-1 inhibitorRICE regimen