Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 14, 2026

Establishment of a Co-culture System of Patient-Derived Colorectal Tumor Organoids and Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs)
Published on: June 27, 2025
Beyond the Burden: Elevating Immunotherapy in Colorectal Cancer
Christine M Parseghian1, Madhulika Eluri1
1Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
Abstract:
Colorectal cancers treated with targeted therapies frequently acquire numerous subclonal genomic alterations. Tumor mutational burden (TMB) is under investigation as a biomarker for predicting response to immunotherapy in microsatellite-stable metastatic colorectal cancer. In this study, we contextualize a recent study evaluating high plasma TMB after targeted therapy and its implications for immunotherapy. See related article by Yeh et al., p. 1100.
Insights
Targeted therapy for colorectal cancer can lead to genomic changes. High plasma tumor mutation burden (TMB) after treatment may predict immunotherapy response in metastatic disease.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genomics
- Immunotherapy
Background:
- Colorectal cancers often develop genomic alterations after targeted therapy.
- Tumor mutation burden (TMB) is being explored as a predictive biomarker for immunotherapy response in microsatellite-stable metastatic colorectal cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To contextualize a recent study on high plasma TMB following targeted therapy.
- To explore the implications of high plasma TMB for immunotherapy efficacy in colorectal cancer.
Main Methods:
- Review and contextualization of a recent study.
- Analysis of plasma TMB levels post-targeted therapy.
Main Results:
- High plasma TMB was observed in patients after targeted therapy.
- This finding has implications for predicting immunotherapy response.
Conclusions:
- Plasma TMB is a potential biomarker for immunotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the role of TMB in guiding treatment decisions.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Tumor Immunotherapy
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents
Cancer Vaccines
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
Drugs for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis in IBD
Treatment Resistant Cancers
Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...

