Advances in the Use of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Colorectal Cancer Treatment

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunotherapy
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major global health concern.
• Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represent a significant advancement in CRC treatment.
• Understanding the landscape of ICI clinical trials is crucial for advancing precision immunotherapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of global clinical trials involving ICIs for CRC.
• To analyze major molecular targets, combination therapy strategies, and geographic distribution.
• To identify future directions for precision immunotherapy in CRC.

Main Methods:

• Systematic retrieval and screening of all registered clinical trials on ICIs in CRC.
• Organization of core information including trial phase, country, targets, and combinations.
• Retrospective and trend analyses of the collected data.

Main Results:

• 1,479 eligible trials were included, showing a steady increase in research.
• Phase II trials are the most common; the US and China lead in trial numbers.
• Key targets include PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4; combination therapies with anti-angiogenic and targeted drugs are a focus.

Conclusions:

• ICIs are driving precision immunotherapy for CRC.
• Multi-target combination therapies show promise but face challenges in clinical translation and efficacy.
• Future research should investigate mechanisms and accumulate data to optimize immunotherapy strategies.