Cancers, Vol. 15, Pages 4245: Immunotherapy for Colorectal Cancer with High Microsatellite Instability: The Ongoing Search for Biomarkers

Cancers, Vol. 15, Pages 4245: Immunotherapy for Colorectal Cancer with High Microsatellite Instability: The Ongoing Search for Biomarkers Cancers doi: 10.3390/cancers15174245 Authors: Ros Baraibar Saoudi Rodriguez Salvà Tabernero Élez Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a biological condition associated with inflamed tumors, high tumor mutational burden (TMB), and responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors. In colorectal cancer (CRC), MSI tumors are found in 5% of patients in the metastatic setting and 15% in early-stage disease. Following the impressive clinical activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the metastatic setting, associated with deep and long-lasting responses, the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors has expanded to early-stage disease. Several phase II trials have demonstrated a high rate of pathological complete responses, with some patients even spared from surgery. However, in both settings, not all patients respond and some responses are short, emphasizing the importance of the ongoing search for accurate biomarkers. While various biomarkers of response have been evaluated in the context of MSI CRC, including B2M and JAK1/2 mutations, TMB, WNT pathway mutations, and Lynch syndrome, with mixed results, liver metastases have been associated with a lack of activity in such strategies. To improve patient selection and treatment outcomes, further research is required to identify additional biomarkers and refine existing one...
Source: Cancers - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Review Source Type: research