OncoTargets and Therapy (Nov 2020)
Emerging Role of Immunotherapy for Colorectal Cancer with Liver Metastasis
Abstract
Xianzhe Yu,1,* Lingling Zhu,2,* Jiewei Liu,2,* Ming Xie,1 Jiang Chen,3 Jianguo Li1 1Gastrointestinal Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jianguo LiGastrointestinal Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Huichuan Area, Dalian Road 149, Zunyi 563000, Guizhou, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 851-28608241Fax +86 22 6036 3013Email [email protected] ChenDepartment of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail [email protected]: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignant tumor in the world and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with the liver as the most common site of distant metastasis. The prognosis of CRC with liver metastasis is poor, and most patients cannot undergo surgery. In addition, conventional antitumor approaches such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and surgery result in unsatisfactory outcomes. In recent years, immunotherapy has shown good prospects in the treatment of assorted tumors by enhancing the host’s antitumor immune function, and it may become a new effective treatment for liver metastasis of CRC. However, challenges remain in applying immunotherapy to CRC with liver metastasis. This review examines how the microenvironment and immunosuppressive landscape of the liver favor tumor progression. It also highlights the latest research advances in immunotherapy for colorectal liver metastasis and identifies immunotherapy as a treatment regimen with a promising future in clinical applications.Keywords: immunotherapy, colorectal cancer, liver metastasis, tumor immune microenvironment, immune checkpoint inhibitors, deficient DNA mismatch repair
