Transcriptomic profiling identifies immunotherapy-responsive phenotypes in microsatellite-stable metastatic colorectal cancer.
Researchers identify which patients with the most common type of metastatic colon cancer might respond to immunotherapy, potentially expanding treatment options for thousands.
This Oncogene study uses transcriptomic profiling to identify immunotherapy-responsive tumor phenotypes within MSS metastatic colorectal cancer — the dominant mCRC subtype (85-90% of cases) that is typically unresponsive to PD-1 inhibitors. Identification of responsive subgroups could transform treatment selection for a major unmet need in metastatic CRC.
What the study was
- Study design
- Retrospective biomarker/transcriptomic analysis — cohort study
- Population
- Adults with microsatellite-stable metastatic colorectal cancer (MSS mCRC)
- Category
- Genomics/Precision Medicine
- Maturity
- Exploratory
- Journal
- Oncogene
Why it surfaced
MSS mCRC immunotherapy resistance is one of the major clinical challenges in oncology. Transcriptomic phenotyping to identify responsive subgroups is a meaningful advance if validated prospectively. Score 7/10: moderate novelty (field is active but no clinically implemented biomarker yet, 2), high relevance for the 85% of mCRC that is MSS (3), retrospective transcriptomic study design (1), significant patient population (1).
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