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Cidon. J Unexplored Med Data 2018;3:8 Journal of
DOI: 10.20517/2572-8180.2018.03 Unexplored Medical Data

Review Open Access

Immunotherapy in colon cancer: approaching to the
future

Esther Una Cidon

Department of Oncology, Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Castle Lane East, Bournemouth,
Dorset BH7 7DW, UK.
Correspondence to: Dr. Esther Una Cidon, Department of Oncology, Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital NHS Foundation
Trust, Castle Lane East, Bournemouth, Dorset BH7 7DW, UK. E-mails: Esther.unacidon@rbch.nhs.uk; aunacid@hotmail.com
How to cite this article: Cidon EU. Immunotherapy in colon cancer: approaching to the future. J Unexplored Med Data 2018;3:8.
http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2572-8180.2018.03
Received: 19 Apr 2018 First Decision: 7 Aug 2018 Revised: 12 Sep 2018 Accepted: 18 Sep 2018 Published: 17 Oct 2018

Science Editor: Tarek Shalaby Copy Editor: Yuan-Li Wang Production Editor: Zhong-Yu Guo

Abstract

Colon cancer is still one of the most common neoplasias every year, although screening strategies have reduced its
incidence. Unfortunately, the median survival in metastatic cases, not candidates to surgery, remains less than 3 years,
far away from the expectations. A few years back, new agents were introduced in its armamentarium. Bevacizumab and
cetuximab created hopes then. However, systemic options have not evolved as quickly as expected and fluorouracil-based
chemotherapy is still the standard. Moreover patients stop responding at some point due to resistance to these agents and
disease progression after two lines of treatment entails a short survival. However, some patients are still able to receive
further treatment and thus, new agents are urgently needed. The appearance of immunotherapies has opened a hopeful
new therapeutic approach. These treatments alter the immune system and although these have shown efficacy in multiple
cancers, colon is not one of them. However, emerging data show that there are some patients who may benefit. This article
will review published and ongoing clinical trials of immunotherapy in colon cancer.

Keywords: Colon cancer, pembrolizumab, microsatellite instability, nivolumab, programmed death 1, programmed death-
ligand 1

INTRODUCTION
[1]
Colon cancer is still a very common disease worldwide , (although the use of screening strategies has
[2]
reduced its incidence) and unfortunately, the median survival in metastatic cases, not candidates to
[3]
surgery, remains still less than 3 years .

© The Author(s) 2018. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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