Thymosin combined with anticancer therapy improves esophageal cancer survival and immune function, reduces adverse effects.

Esophageal cancer (EC) remains a highly aggressive malignancy with a generally poor prognosis, often requiring intensive anticancer therapies that carry significant side effects. Current standard-of-care treatments, while effective to a degree, frequently lead to substantial morbidity and compromise patient quality of life. There is a critical need for adjunctive therapies that can enhance treatment efficacy, improve patient survival, and mitigate treatment-related toxicities. Immunomodulatory agents like thymosin are being investigated for their potential to bolster the host's immune response against cancer and improve tolerability to conventional therapies.

This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized data from 18 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 1,272 patients with esophageal cancer. The studies compared the efficacy and safety of thymosin combined with standard anticancer therapy against standard anticancer therapy alone. Primary endpoints included Objective Response Rate (ORR), Disease Control Rate (DCR), 1, 2, and 3-year survival rates, and immune function markers. Safety was assessed by the incidence of common treatment-related adverse effects. Data was analyzed using Review Manager 5.4, with sensitivity analysis and publication bias assessment via Stata 18.0.