Promising immunotherapeutic treatments for colon cancer

Colon cancer continues to predominate as one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide due to its subtle symptomology and multifactorial etiology. Currently, the standard treatment approach involves surgical resection for localized tumors and adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) for cancers that have spread or invaded locally. Unfortunately, this treatment strategy may not be effective for advanced, metastatic stages of the disease or in instances of recurrence. However, advancements in immunotherapy have demonstrated promising results in the field of medical oncology, which could redefine the way patients and clinicians view the disease. These treatments have shown benefit and have the potential to be superior to the current interventions available for afflicted patients. The application of immunotherapy in conjunction with traditional treatments may improve the outcomes of patients suffering from colon cancer and decrease the burden this disease has on patients. Furthermore, more effective treatments in the form of conjunction immunological, surgical, and chemotherapeutic techniques may shorten treatment courses and lead to better long-term effects. This review paper investigates immunotherapeutic interventions for colon cancer, which include immune checkpoint inhibitors, oncolytic virotherapy, cancer vaccines, cytokine therapy, and CAR-T. Such a study might provide more information for clinicians to treat patients with colon cancer in the advanced stages or in recurrence.