A Comprehensive Biomarker Analysis of Microsatellite Unstable/Mismatch Repair Deficient Colorectal Cancer Cohort Treated with Immunotherapy.

The search for immunotherapy biomarkers in Microsatellite Instability High/Deficient Mismatch Repair system (MSI-H/dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is an unmet need. Sixteen patients with mCRC and MSI-H/dMMR (determined by either immunohistochemistry or polymerase chain reaction) treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors at our institution were included. According to whether the progression-free survival with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors was longer than 6 months or shorter, patients were clustered into the IT-responder group (: 9 patients) or IT-resistant group (: 7 patients), respectively.

Impact of circulating tumor DNA mutant allele fraction on prognosis in RAS-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer.

Despite major advances in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), the survival rate remains very poor. This study aims at exploring the prognostic value of RAS-mutant allele fraction (MAF) in plasma in mCRC. Forty-seven plasma samples from 37 RAS-mutated patients with nonresectable metastases were tested for RAS in circulating tumor DNA using BEAMing before first- and/or second-line treatment.

Triple-drug chemotherapy regimens in combination with an anti-EGFR agent in metastatic colorectal cancer - prospects from phase II clinical trials.

Introduction: The addition of monoclonal antibody (mAb) epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors to classic chemotherapy doublet backbones has improved survival of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). However, the role of triple-drug chemotherapy regimens in combination with an anti-EGFR mAb inhibitor is not yet clear.

Areas Covered: The activity of triple-drug chemotherapy regimens when combined with an anti-EGFR mAb in mCRC patients is examined.

The safety of ramucirumab for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Ramucirumab, a human monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2), is an antiangiogenic therapy that has been approved in combination with FOLFIRI in second-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), after progression on or after therapy with bevacizumab, oxaliplatin, and a fluoropyrimidine. A thorough review of the safety of ramucirumab in this setting and in the context of other antiangiogenic agents is merited. Areas covered: We provide an overview of activity and summarize in detail the overall safety and tolerability profile of ramucirumab in mCRC patients on the basis of a literature review of all published clinical trials in this setting, including both single-agent and combination studies.

Evaluating trifluridine + tipiracil hydrochloride in a fixed combination (TAS-102) for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Despite major progress in treating advanced colorectal cancer (CRC), prognosis in this population after progression on standard treatment remains dismal and the development of new drugs represents an unmet need. Historically, fluoropyrimidines have played a major role in the treatment of metastatic CRC. TAS-102, a novel combination of trifluridine and tipiracil hydrochloride, has demonstrated improvement in overall survival in the refractory CRC setting, with a safe toxicity profile.