[Abstract]Esophageal cancer remains one of the malignant tumors that threaten human health, characterized by a high incidence and significant malignancy. Currently, surgery following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is the standard treatment for locally advanced esophageal cancer. However, long-term prognosis remains unsatisfactory. In recent years, PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have made breakthrough progress in other solid tumors, and research on their use in esophageal cancer has gradually been conducted. Given the favorable outcomes of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in first- and second-line treatments for advanced unresectable esophageal cancer, incorporating them into neoadjuvant therapy has become a focus of attention. Therefore, this article provides a review of the mechanisms of action of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and their application in neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer.