Tiragolumab with atezolizumab for oesophageal squamous cell cancer

Tiragolumab in combination with atezolizumab is in clinical development to treat patients with
unresectable oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) following chemoradiotherapy. ESCC
is a type of cancer that begins in the thin, flat cells lining the food pipe (oesophagus) and may
spread to other parts of the body. Unresectable refers to cancer which cannot be removed
completely by surgery. Symptoms include difficulty swallowing, persistent indigestion or
heartburn, weight loss, pain in the throat, and chronic cough. In the UK it is more common in older
people (≥75 years old) and males. There is a need for new treatment options, including
immunotherapies, which help the immune system to fight cancer, as ESCC progresses rapidly and
is associated with a high mortality.