Comparison of short-term outcomes of combined neoadjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy, neoadjuvant radiotherapy, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy for resectable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

For locally advanced resectable ESCC, nCRT requires vigilant management because of its association with grade 3 treatment-related adverse events (AEs). While nICT demonstrates a lower incidence of severe (grade ≥ 3) non-immune toxicities compared to nCRT, supporting its controllable safety. nCRT achieved superior PCR rates versus nICT/nCT, but nICT showed greater nodal (N) downstaging efficacy. Conversely, nCRT provided enhanced primary tumor (T) control.