Dr. Morris on the Role of Immunotherapy in Metastatic CRC

Van K. Morris, MD, assistant professor, Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the role of immunotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC).

Immunotherapy has been an exciting addition to the armamentarium of metastatic CRC in the past few years, explains Morris.

However, only approximately 3% to 5% of all patients with metastatic CRC have microsatellite instability–high disease that is amenable to immunotherapy, says Morris. These patients can have favorable long-term outcomes with immunotherapy.

Translating these outcomes to patients with metastatic CRC who have microsatellite stable disease is an area of active research, concludes Morris.