The Outlook for Immune Checkpoint Targeting Strategies in Colorectal Cancer

Encouraging clinical activity for checkpoint blockade in melanoma, lung cancer, and a growing list of other malignancies has supported enthusiasm for testing this strategy in colorectal cancer. Although frequent observations of T cell infiltration into colorectal cancer and a well-established list of target antigens suggest colorectal cancer should be amenable to this approach, there was limited clinical evidence until recent demonstration of substantial activity for anti-PD-1 antibody therapy in microsatellite instability high colorectal cancers. Addition of other therapeutic modalities such as targeted therapy, other checkpoint molecules, or other immunotherapies to anti-PD-1 antibodies is currently under evaluation with the hope that it will expand the possible spectrum of colorectal cancers treatable with checkpoint blockade.

Duke Scholars

Author Michael Aaron Morse Medicine, Medical Oncology