First-line immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for esophageal cancer recurrence shows no advantage based on prior adjuvant nivolumab treatment.

• Among 81 patients, early tumor shrinkage rates were similar between those with and without prior nivolumab exposure.
• No differences in progression-free survival (HR 1.4) or overall survival (HR 1.23), with 2-year overall survival at approximately 44%.

This suggests prior adjuvant immunotherapy does not hinder the effectiveness of subsequent treatments during recurrence.