title: Checkpoint inhibition for colorectal cancer: progress and possibilities.
abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the third most common cause of cancer death in the USA. Despite an increase in the repertoire of treatment options available for CRC, median overall survival has plateaued at approximately 2.5 years. Strategies that engage the patient's native immune system to overcome checkpoint inhibition have proven to be promising in subsets of CRCs, specifically those with mismatch repair deficiency. Further studies are required to determine combinations of standard therapies with immunotherapy drugs and to discover the best biomarkers to predict response. This review provides insight into the progress made in treating patients with advanced CRC with immunotherapeutics and the areas that demand further research to make these drugs more effective in this patient population.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: Indiana University Melvin & Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Bert H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: O'Neil
authors.affiliation: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Autumn J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: McRee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054316:Biomarkers, Pharmacological / Q000378:metabolism; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D061025:Costimulatory and Inhibitory T-Cell Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D054316:Biomarkers, Pharmacological; D061025:Costimulatory and Inhibitory T-Cell Receptors
keywords: checkpoint inhibition; colorectal cancer; immunotherapy