Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Recent therapeutic approaches that add epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) targeted agents to standard chemotherapy have produced a prolonged overall survival (OS) of up to 30 months in patients with metastatic disease. However, research is ongoing to further improve the outcome of metastatic CRC (mCRC) patients.

The relationship between cancer cells and host immune cells in the tumor microenvironment has been the object of growing interest among researchers, and cancer cell escape from the immune system response was recently recognized as an independent hallmark of cancer. Immunotherapy has made numerous advances in this area because of a better understanding of immuno-oncology. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are one of the most promising immunotherapy approaches, obtaining U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the treatment of different advanced malignancies such as melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer. On the basis of these encouraging results, trials are also ongoing for patients with mCRC.

This paper presents a description of the interconnection between tumor and immune system, together with a summary of the immunological features of CRC and an up-to-date overview of the role of checkpoint inhibitors in mCRC.

Thanks and Regards,
Michelle
Managing Editor
Colorectal Cancer: Open Access