RATIONALE-306 evaluated outcomes with etapidi + chemotherapy vs placebo + chemotherapy in patients with 1L, unresectable, advanced or metastatic ESCC1-4
This global trial was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial conducted in 16 countries at 162 sites across multiple continents: Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania*
- Key efficacy analysis in patients with a PD-L1 score 21% : n=481
- Safety analysis population: n-645
RATIONALE-306 was stratified by:
- Investigator-chosen chemotherapy (platinum + fluoropyrimidine vs platinum + paclitaxel)
- Region (Asia [excluding Japan] vs Japan vs rest of world)
- Previous definitive therapy (yes vs no)
etapidi + chemotherapy was tested across a broad range of patients with a PD-L1 score ≥1%4
| Baseline characteristics for patients with a PD-L1 score ≥1% |
etapidi chemotherapy (n=231) |
chemotherapy only (n=250) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Age group, ≥65 years, % | 43.3 | 50.8 | |
| Sex, % | Female/Male | 15.2/84.8 | 12.4/87.6 |
| ECOG PS, % | 0/1 | 32.5/67.5 | 35.2/64.8 |
| Tobacco consumption, % |
Never Former Current Missing |
19.5 60.2 16.5 3.9 |
24.0 56.4 16.0 3.6 |
| Race, % |
Asian White Other/not reported/unknown |
74.9 24.2 0.8 |
76.8 21.6 1.2 |
| Disease status at study entry, metastatic, % |
Yes No |
86.6 13.4 |
87.2 12.8 |
| Number of metastatic sites at study entry, % |
0-2 >2 |
83.1 16.9 |
81.2 18.8 |
| Patients with at least 1 prior definitive therapy, % | 43.7 | 42.0 | |
| Treatment | |||
| ICC option per IRT, % |
Platinum + fluoropyrimidine Platinum + paclitaxel |
43.0 57.0 |
46.4 53.6 |
You may use your preferred PD-L1 testing method to identify patients in clinical practice
*Oceania including Australia.
†The key efficacy analysis was a retrospective subgroup analysis of RATIONALE-306 in patients with a PD-L1 score ≥1%. PD-L1–negative patients were excluded from this analysis population due to etapidi + chemotherapy being indicated only in patients whose tumors expressed PD-L1 (≥1).
1L, first line; 5-FU, 5-fluorouracil; CAPOX, capecitabine, oxaliplatin; CPS, combined positive score; ECOG, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group; ESCC, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; FDA, US Food and Drug Administration; ICC, investigator-chosen chemotherapy; IRT; interactive response technology; IV, intravenous; ORR, overall response rate; OS, overall survival; PD-L1, programmed death ligand 1; PFS, progression-free survival; PS, performance status; Q3W, every 3 weeks; R, randomization; RECIST, Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors.
References: 1. etapidi. Prescribing Information. BeOne Medicines USA, Inc.; 2025. 2. Xu J, Kato K, Raymond E, et al. Lancet Oncol. 2023;24(5):483-495. doi:10.1016/s1470-2045(23)00108-0 3. Xu J, Kato K, Raymond E, et al. Lancet Oncol. Supplementary appendix. 2023;24(5):483-495. doi:10.1016/s1470-2045(23) 00108-0 4. Xu J, Kato K, Hubner R, et al. Adv Ther. Published online March 13, 2025. doi:10.1007/s122325-025-03115-9 5. Raymond E, Xu J, Kato K, et al. Abstract presented at: ESMO Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress, June 26-29, 2024; Munich, Germany. Abstract 395MO.