Immunotherapy for Colon Cancer

[testing765]

Hi. I understand that current immunotherapies for colorectal cancer fall into three categories: checkpoint inhibitors, cancer vaccines, and adoptive cell therapy. I also understand that these therapies are still in early-phase clinical testing (phase I and II) for colorectal cancer, but their successful use in other types of cancers suggests that they may ultimately prove useful for colorectal cancer as well.

So my question is, which of these potential therapies do you see as most promising, and when do you predict they may be presented as standard treatment for colon cancer?

Also, has anyone heard of the Immunoscore for colon cancer? If so, what variables does it use to reach its assessment?

[singingholly]

Good idea starting this thread!
I can't answer of course... maybe the PD-1 PDL-1 path is the nearest to become a concrete chance...?

[jillbugs4110]

Hi

well my onc at OSHU said unfortunate ly immunotherapy is not effective on CRC she said every other cancer is very excited but GI cancer has not proven to be respo n sive.....this broke me heart I was excited for the prospect....

[testing765]

Look at the following article that talks about new research on colon cancer from Johns Hopkins. It even refers to the use of a live, flesh-eating bacteria called Clostridium Novyi-NT administered through a single intravenous injection. In animal studies, the bacteria selectively targeted colon cancer cells while leaving normal cells unharmed. And it refers to a colon cancer vaccine and a blood test that can detect within 24 hours after resection if any cancer cells have been left behind.

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/kimmel_c ... earch.html

I wonder though, how long it would take for any of these procedures to be available to the mainstream?

[jjinmd]

Look at the following article that talks about new research on colon cancer from Johns Hopkins. It even refers to the use of a live, flesh-eating bacteria called Clostridium Novyi-NT administered through a single intravenous injection. In animal studies, the bacteria selectively targeted colon cancer cells while leaving normal cells unharmed. And it refers to a colon cancer vaccine and a blood test that can detect within 24 hours after resection if any cancer cells have been left behind.

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/kimmel_c ... earch.html

I wonder though, how long it would take for any of these procedures to be available to the mainstream?

I'm not sure about the treatment listed in this article...but Dr. in the article is my oncologist. He is currently excited about a trial for stage iv recurrence with Msi. He frequently says that he envisions a day when these types of therapies in combination with gene research will replace surgery as the curative or at least chronic disease management approach for crc. Wouldn't that be a wonderful day.

[BrownBagger]

Hi

well my onc at OSHU said unfortunate ly immunotherapy is not effective on CRC she said every other cancer is very excited but GI cancer has not proven to be respo n sive.....this broke me heart I was excited for the prospect....

I'm not sure this is true. Just don't know. I do know that Maia is heavily involved in researching and following immunotherapy treatment's potential for CRC, and I believe Belle was in an immunotherapy trial that unfortunately made her too sick to continue. In any event, I hope your onc is wrong, because I'm pinning my hopes on something along these lines.

[janderson]

DCvax direct cancer vaccine which had remarkable phase I results was tested on a small number of stage IV refractory cancer patients including colon cancer. I check their website regularly and they have a phase II trial planned for various cancers but I see the also have a phase II trial planed specifically for MCRC which tells me they believe MCRC might have the most success and the best chance for FDA approval first. The pharmaceutical companies have to make money so I believe that when they decide to put more resources into one type of cancer they believe that is their best chance to start making money.

[crhamilton]

Hi

well my onc at OSHU said unfortunate ly immunotherapy is not effective on CRC she said every other cancer is very excited but GI cancer has not proven to be respo n sive.....this broke me heart I was excited for the prospect....

Dear Jillbugs4110,

there are also other approaches that have been used in the past - i.e. anti-EpCAM therapies, since more than 90% of CRC´s express EpCAM on the surface. In Germany and in some few other countries an anti-EpCAM therapy has been approved to control the development of Ascites in EpCAMpos CRC patients. Since there were few reports about patients that showed remarkable responses even just from the systemic uptake of the i.p. injection of anti-EpCAM (Removab) with even disappearance of liver mets and lung mets in highly pretreated settings were no other therapies have been applied, this might be an adjunctive therapy that could be discussed in combination with other therapies, i.e conventional chemo, small molecules, DCVacc, Checkpoint-antibodies. So far I just know of one clinic that provides this therapy as an i.v. therapy out of these observations , but there must be several.

I disagree with your Onc since although no clinical trial data have been so far shown results with checkpoint antibodies in CRC - but i.e. in gastric cancer - it´s just a matter of time - since myself but also patients that I have met profited the most from these therapies.