Novel agents in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer
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Updated: Jun 12, 2026
Development and Maintenance of a Preclinical Patient Derived Tumor Xenograft Model for the Investigation of Novel Anti-Cancer Therapies
Published on: September 30, 2016
Stephen Leong1, Wells A Messersmith, Aik Choon Tan
1GI Medical Oncology Program, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA. stephen.leong@ucdenver.edu
Abstract:
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer death in the United States. Research has led to an explosion of knowledge into the molecular basis of CRC in the past decades. Numerous receptors and intracellular proteins have been identified and implicated in the growth and progression of metastatic CRC, thus creating novel targets for drug development. Many agents are under development and have begun to enter early and even later-stage clinical trials. Results of these agents have demonstrated some encouraging activity but in a small number of patients. Research into predictive biomarkers aims to select the patients who may benefit from these novel agents. This review will address several of these promising new agents, their potential relevance to CRC, results from early clinical studies, and their incorporation into future and ongoing CRC clinical trials. Clearly, there is an urgent need for new agents in this disease, but as we learned from the experience with epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted antibodies, patient selection will be increasingly be required for individualized therapy to become a reality in CRC.
Insights
New colorectal cancer (CRC) treatments show promise but benefit only a few patients. Future therapies will require predictive biomarkers for personalized medicine in CRC treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Drug Development
Background:
- Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer mortality in the US.
- Recent decades have seen significant advances in understanding CRC's molecular underpinnings.
- This has identified numerous molecular targets for novel therapeutic agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review promising new therapeutic agents for colorectal cancer.
- To discuss their relevance, early clinical trial results, and future trial incorporation.
- To highlight the importance of predictive biomarkers for patient selection.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on novel CRC agents.
- Analysis of early-stage clinical trial data.
- Discussion of biomarker research for targeted therapy.
Main Results:
- Several novel agents are in early to late-stage clinical trials for CRC.
- These agents have shown encouraging activity in a subset of patients.
- Predictive biomarker research is crucial for identifying patient populations likely to respond.
Conclusions:
- There is an urgent need for new CRC treatments.
- Individualized therapy requires patient selection based on predictive biomarkers.
- Lessons from EGFR-targeted therapies underscore the need for precision medicine in CRC.
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