Does OPDIVO QVANTIG help treat esophageal adenocarcinoma?
OPDIVO QVANTIG is a specific combination of the drug nivolumab and hyaluronidase. The FDA has approved this specific combination for treating advanced renal cell carcinoma and melanoma, but it has not been approved for esophageal adenocarcinoma 1. However, the active cancer-fighting ingredient, nivolumab, is a standard treatment for this disease when used with chemotherapy.
What the research says
Research shows that nivolumab combined with chemotherapy improves survival for patients with advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma. In a major study following patients for three years, adding nivolumab to chemotherapy increased the chance of being alive at 36 months compared to chemotherapy alone 5. This combination also improved the rate of tumor shrinkage and delayed disease progression 5.
The NCCN guidelines confirm that nivolumab is one of several targeted therapies that have produced encouraging results for patients with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal adenocarcinoma 4. These guidelines note that testing for specific markers, such as PD-L1 expression, helps determine if a patient might benefit from nivolumab 4.
While OPDIVO QVANTIG itself is not indicated for this cancer, the underlying drug nivolumab is a key part of the treatment plan for many patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma 45.
What to ask your doctor
- Is my tumor tested for PD-L1 expression to see if I might benefit from nivolumab?
- What are the standard chemotherapy options to combine with nivolumab for my specific case?
- Are there any clinical trials available for esophageal adenocarcinoma that I could join?
- How do the side effects of nivolumab compare to chemotherapy alone for my situation?
This question is drawn from common patient questions about Gastroenterology and answered using cited medical research. We do not provide individualized advice.