Abstract: Tumor progression is often associated with immune suppression or the ability of the tumors to avoid immune surveillance. Immunotherapy improves the ability of the immune system to recognize and clear tumor cells with a little influence on the normal tissues. Immunotherapy is a hot spot in the research of advanced esophageal cancer. Immunotherapy of esophageal cancer includes immune checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cellular immunotherapy, tumor vaccines and antibody therapy. At present, a large number of clinical trials are underway to evaluate the role of immunotherapy in esophageal cancer. Checkpoint inhibitors represented by Pembrolizumab and Nivolumab, has achieved initial success in the treatment of advanced esophageal cancer to improve the prognosis and life quality of esophageal cancer patients. In the future, further studies are needed to have a research on the effects of tumor heterogeneity, prediction of therapeutic targets, and immune tolerance.

Key words: Esophageal neoplasms, Immunotherapy, Immune checkpoint blockades