Immunotherapy and immunoevasion of colorectal cancer

Mohammad Al Zein; Mona Boukhdoud; Hadi Shammaa; Hadi Mouslem; Lemir Majed El Ayoubi; Rabah Iratni; Khodr Issa; Maha Khachab; Hazem I Assi; Amirhossein Sahebkar; Ali H Eid

doi:10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103669

Immunotherapy and immunoevasion of colorectal cancer

Drug Discov Today. 2023 Sep;28(9):103669. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103669. Epub 2023 Jun 14.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Hadath, Beirut, Lebanon.
² Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, UAE.
³ University of Lille, Proteomics, Inflammatory Response, Mass Spectrometry, INSERM U-1192, Lille, France.
⁴ Faculty of Medicine, University of Balamand, Lebanon.
⁵ Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
⁶ Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
⁷ Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Qatar University, QU Health, Doha, Qatar. Electronic address: ali.eid@qu.edu.qa.

PMID: 37328052
DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103669

Abstract

The tremendous success of immunotherapy in clinical trials has led to its establishment as a new pillar of cancer therapy. However, little clinical efficacy has been achieved in microsatellite stable colorectal cancer (MSS-CRC), which constitutes most CRC tumors. Here, we discuss the molecular and genetic heterogeneity of CRC. We review the immune escape mechanisms, and focus on the latest advances in immunotherapy as a treatment modality for CRC. By providing a better understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the molecular mechanisms underlying immunoevasion, this review offers an insight into developing therapeutic strategies that are effective for patients with various subsets of CRC.

Keywords: CTLA-4; PD-1; adoptive cell therapy; cancer vaccines; colorectal cancer; immune checkpoint inhibitor.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Colorectal Neoplasms* / drug therapy
Colorectal Neoplasms* / genetics
Humans
Immunotherapy*
Treatment Outcome
Tumor Microenvironment