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Esophageal cancer: options by country

Sourced options by country plus visit-prep questions for Esophageal cancer. Each line links to its regulator, HTA, or guideline source. This page maps options; it does not recommend or rank them.

Options mappedSolid tumorLast checked June 2026

What this page does

Maps options by country

It maps sourced options by country alongside diagnosis wording, stage, test results, specialists, and trial-search terms.

What it does not do

Does not choose treatment

It does not rank treatments, recommend a choice, or decide clinical fit.

Where it comes from

Built on trusted sources

Every option links to a trusted regulator, HTA, or guideline source, and the list grows as new sources pass verification.

Information to gather before the next visit

  • Has prior fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-based chemotherapy been received?
  • Is the diagnosis esophageal squamous cell carcinoma?
  • Which nivolumab formulation and schedule are locally intended?
  • Has PD-L1 CPS testing been performed and documented as CPS >= 10?

Trial-search terms to discuss

Esophageal cancer clinical trial

Options by country

Treatments by country

Regulatory and access status by country, from official sources. It shows what exists and where — not a recommendation.

United States

  • nivolumab (Opdivo)[1]FDA-approvedafter prior fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-based chemotherapy. · FDA approval notice supports the 2020 post-chemotherapy ESCC indication; current formulation/route and label details should be checked in the latest prescribing information. Confidence/conflicts: high for FDA approval notice; no conflict identified.

European Union

  • nivolumab (Opdivo) monotherapy[2]EMA authorisedafter prior fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-based combination chemotherapy. · EMA central authorisation only; country-specific access and reimbursement remain separate checks. Confidence/conflicts: high for EMA central indication; local reimbursement unverified. No conflict identified.
  • nivolumab (Opdivo) plus fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-based combination chemotherapy[2]EMA authorisedtumour-cell PD-L1 expression >= 1%; first-line unresectable advanced, recurrent, or metastatic oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. · EMA central authorisation does not establish national reimbursement, and the PD-L1 threshold is source-stated. Confidence/conflicts: high for EMA central indication; local reimbursement unverified. No conflict identified.
  • nivolumab (Opdivo) plus ipilimumab (Yervoy)[2]EMA authorisedtumour-cell PD-L1 expression >= 1%; first-line unresectable advanced, recurrent, or metastatic oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. · EMA central authorisation does not establish country-specific reimbursement. The source specifies tumour-cell PD-L1 expression >= 1% for this indication. Confidence/conflicts: high for EMA central indication; local reimbursement unverified. No conflict identified.
  • pembrolizumab (Keytruda) plus platinum- and fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy[3]EMA authorisedPD-L1 CPS >= 10; first-line locally advanced unresectable or metastatic oesophageal carcinoma. · EMA central authorisation does not establish Germany/France reimbursement or local hospital access. PD-L1 CPS threshold is part of the stated indication. Confidence/conflicts: high for EMA central indication; Germany/France reimbursement not verified in this finding. No conflict identified.

United Kingdom

Japan

  • nivolumab (Opdivo)[7]PMDA-approved (Japan)not required by PMDA discussion; PMDA notes PD-L1 selection was not necessary for this post-chemotherapy nivolumab setting; after prior fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-based chemotherapy. · PMDA English translation is reference material; Japanese original takes precedence. PMDA notes clinical studies enrolled patients categorized as squamous cell carcinoma, with non-squamous use requiring physician judgement based on the evidence context. Confidence/conflicts: medium-high; PMDA supports the post-chemotherapy esophageal cancer indication but notes the enrolled clinical population was squamous-cell. No conflict identified. Availability/reimbursement outside the approving regulator not established.
  • nivolumab (Opdivo)[8]PMDA-approved (Japan)not achieved pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant therapy; adjuvant therapy after neoadjuvant therapy in patients without pCR. · PMDA English translation is reference material; Japanese original takes precedence. Source does not establish reimbursement or hospital formulary access. Confidence/conflicts: high for PMDA review-report indication; current Japanese package insert and reimbursement not checked in this finding. No conflict identified.
  • pembrolizumab (Keytruda)[9]PMDA-approved (Japan)PD-L1 positive; after progression following cancer chemotherapy. · PMDA English translation is reference material; Japanese original takes precedence. The source is a review report and does not establish reimbursement or local hospital formulary status. Confidence/conflicts: high for PMDA review-report indication; current Japanese package insert and reimbursement not checked in this finding. No conflict identified.

Korea

  • nivolumab (Opdivo) plus fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy[10]MFDS-approved (Korea)tumour-cell PD-L1 expression >= 1%; first-line unresectable advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. · This is a manufacturer announcement citing MFDS approval, not an MFDS-primary label or HIRA reimbursement source. Current Korea label and reimbursement status remain follow-up gaps. Confidence/conflicts: medium; MFDS approval is manufacturer-attributed and primary label/reimbursement were not fetched. No conflict identified.
  • nivolumab (Opdivo) plus ipilimumab (Yervoy)[10]MFDS-approved (Korea)tumour-cell PD-L1 expression >= 1%; first-line unresectable advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. · This is a manufacturer announcement citing MFDS approval, not an MFDS-primary label or HIRA reimbursement source. Current Korea label and reimbursement status remain follow-up gaps. Confidence/conflicts: medium; MFDS approval is manufacturer-attributed and primary label/reimbursement were not fetched. No conflict identified.

China

  • pembrolizumab (Keytruda) monotherapy[11]ApprovedPD-L1 CPS >= 10 by a fully validated test; second-line / following failure of one prior line of systemic therapy. · This is a manufacturer announcement attributing approval to NMPA, not an NMPA-primary label page. China label wording, reimbursement, and current availability need primary-source confirmation before patient-facing reuse. Confidence/conflicts: medium; NMPA approval is company-attributed and primary China label was not fetched. No conflict identified.
  • sintilimab (Tyvyt) plus cisplatin/paclitaxel or cisplatin/5-fluorouracil chemotherapy[12]NMPA-approved (China)not restricted by PD-L1 in the source's stated approval wording; first-line treatment. · This is a company/PR Newswire announcement attributing approval to NMPA CDE, not an NMPA-primary label. It states ORIENT-15 benefit regardless of PD-L1 expression, but local label and reimbursement should be checked directly. Confidence/conflicts: medium; NMPA approval is company-attributed and primary China label was not fetched. No conflict identified.

Sources

  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — regulator approval notice · regulator approval notice
  2. European Medicines Agency (EMA) — regulator EPAR · regulator EPAR
  3. European Medicines Agency (EMA) — regulator EPAR · regulator EPAR
  4. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) — national guideline · national guideline
  5. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) — national HTA/guideline recommendation · national HTA/guideline recommendation
  6. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) — national HTA/guideline recommendation · national HTA/guideline recommendation
  7. Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) — regulator review report · regulator review report
  8. Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) — regulator review report · regulator review report
  9. Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) — regulator review report · regulator review report
  10. Ono Pharmaceutical — manufacturer approval announcement citing MFDS · manufacturer approval announcement citing MFDS
  11. Merck — manufacturer approval announcement citing NMPA · manufacturer approval announcement citing NMPA
  12. Innovent Biologics / PR Newswire — manufacturer approval announcement citing NMPA CDE · manufacturer approval announcement citing NMPA CDE

This is official regulatory and access status only — not medical advice, not a recommendation, and not a statement about eligibility. Whether any option fits depends on your situation and your oncology team. Status changes over time; confirm the current position with the linked source. Last checked 2026-06-12.

Beyond approved care

In clinical trials & emerging options

Options that are not — or not yet — an approved standard where you live: studies, clinical trials, off-label use, and early evidence that your own oncologist may not raise. Each is labeled by how strong the evidence is. A listing here is information to research and discuss with your team; it does not mean a treatment is proven, safe for you, or available today.

In clinical trials

A clinical-trial listing or early report shows an option is being studied — not that it works, that it is safe for any one person, or that a site is enrolling today. Whether any of these fits is a conversation for your oncology team and the trial team. Last checked 2026-06-12.