Immune checkpoint inhibitors in BRAF-mutated advanced colorectal cancer

Future Oncol. 2023 Nov;19(36):2417-2424. doi: 10.2217/fon-2022-0978. Epub 2023 Nov 22.

Abstract

Colorectal cancer has been around for a long time, but is still a challenge nonetheless. However, the heterogeneity of the disease opens new potential therapeutic doors. BRAF-mutated advanced colorectal cancer is a demanding entity that does not respond to standard chemotherapy regimens (FOLFOX, capecitabine) and the presence of the mutation significantly weakens the prognosis, but the rise of immunotherapy could reverse the trend. Indeed, pembrolizumab and nivolumab have boasted promising outcomes and increased survival rates among this subset of patients. This article is a collection of these results which could potentially bring immunotherapy to the front line.

Keywords: BRAF-mutated colorectal cancer; advanced cancer; clinical trials; immune checkpoint inhibitors; immunotherapy; treatment regimen.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Colorectal Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Colorectal Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors* / pharmacology
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors* / therapeutic use
  • Nivolumab / therapeutic use
  • Prognosis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / genetics

Substances

  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
  • Nivolumab
  • BRAF protein, human