Adding lenvatinib to pembrolizumab and chemo didn’t boost survival in advanced esophageal cancer, trial finds.

A phase 3 trial presented at the 2025 ESMO Congress found that adding lenvatinib to pembrolizumab and chemotherapy did not improve overall survival in advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma compared to pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy alone, with median survival of 17.6 vs. 15.5 months. The trial included about 850 patients and showed no significant benefit across subgroups, including PD-L1 status. Progression-free survival was slightly higher in the lenvatinib group but not statistically significant. Updated results from the CheckMate 648 trial showed nivolumab combined with chemotherapy or ipilimumab significantly improved 5-year survival and response durability in the same cancer type.