Nivolumab (Opdivo) for Oesophageal Cancer

Nivolumab is a drug which blocks a protein, called the programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor, on thesurface of certain immune cells (called T-cells). By blocking the PD-1 receptor this triggers the T-cellsto find and kill cancer cells. Nivolumab is given as a drip directly into a vein in the hand or arm. Studiesof nivolumab in this population are currently being conducted to determine if it may extend survivalor slow the progression of the disease.