ASCO GI 2022 | Immunotherapy plus TKIs for the treatment of CRC

Richard D. Kim, MD, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, talks on immunotherapy plus tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for the conversion of a cold tumor to a hot tumor in patients with colon cancer. Dr. Kim describes a Japanese trial where patients exhibited a 30% response rate to nivolumab plus regorafenib in patients with microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer (CRC), however, further trials have not been able to replicate similar levels of efficacy. The rationale behind combining immunotherapy with a TKI is for the TKI to adjust the microenvironment to improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy. Dr. Kim expresses the requirement for a biomarker to enable the prediction of patients who will respond to this combination. For instance, there is data suggesting patients with non-liver metastasis tend to respond well. Additionally, prior radiation may be a potential biomarker for response to pembrolizumab plus regorafenib. This interview took place at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 2022.