Dr. Overman Discusses Immunotherapy and MSI Testing in CRC

Michael J. Overman, MD, associate professor, Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses immunotherapy and microsatellite instability (MSI) testing in colorectal caner (CRC).

In the updated findings from CheckMate-142, nivolumab (Opdivo) showed durable and clinically meaningful responses in patients with DNA mismatch-repair deficient (dMMR) and MSI-H metastatic CRC. The combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab (Yervoy) provided durable clinical benefit over a median follow-up of 13 months, with an objective response rate of 55% and a median duration of response that was not reached.

Overman says that it is important for all patients with CRC to undergo MSI testing, as active combinations like this are providing patients with durable responses, and could even cure a fraction of patients. Identifying the group of patients who may respond to this type of therapy is critical, Overman adds, and results from CheckMate-142 support the idea of universal testing in CRC either by immunohistochemical staining or next-generation sequencing.