Edward Chu, MD, MMS, professor, Department of Medicine (Oncology) and Department of Molecular Pharmacology, and director, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, discusses ongoing efforts to address disparities in lung cancer at Montefiore and Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

It is known that survival outcomes are currently much poorer in African American patients with lung cancer, according to Chu. This is largely because this patient population is often diagnosed with advanced disease, according to Chu. As such, Brendon M. Stiles, MD, who was named chief of Thoracic Surgery & Surgical Oncology at Montefiore and Albert Einstein College of Medicine in March 2021, is focused on developing strategies for increasing early detection and screening in high-risk patient populations, Chu says. 

Smoking is known to be a risk factor for lung cancer; however, environmental and toxic exposures can also increase risk of developing the disease, Chu notes. Stiles and his team will examine social and behavioral risk factors associated with lung cancer to better inform at-risk patients, Chu concludes.

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Edward Chu, MD, MMS, discusses ongoing efforts to address disparities in lung cancer at Montefiore and Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Dr. Chu on Ongoing Efforts to Address Disparities in Lung Cancer 

Edward Chu, MD, MMS, director and professor of medicine and molecular pharmacology at Albert Einstein Cancer Center, and vice president for cancer medicine at Montefiore Medicine, discusses the importance of identifying patients with microsatellite instability–high (MSI-H)​ metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Approximately 5% of patients with mCRC will express an MSI-H phenotype, ​says Chu. Despite its rarity, MSI-H is an important characteristic of a patient’s disease, says Chu.

 When molecular* abnormalities are identified, patients can be treated appropriately with personalized therapy, Chu adds.

, the concept of precision medicine in mCRC was a major theme, concludes Chu.

Edward Chu, MD, MMS, discusses the importance of identifying patients with microsatellite instability–high metastatic colorectal cancer.

Dr. Chu on the Importance of Identifying MSI Status in mCRC

Edward Chu, MD, MMS, director and professor of medicine and molecular pharmacology at Albert Einstein Cancer Center, and vice president for cancer medicine at Montefiore Medicine, discusses the role of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in patients with mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) or microsatellite instability–high (MSI-H) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). 

The phase 3 MK-3475-177/KEYNOTE-177 trial demonstrated a significantly improved overall response rate, duration of response, and progression-free survival with pembrolizumab versus investigator’s choice of standard-of-care chemotherapy, says Chu. Moreover, pembrolizumab demonstrated a favorable safety profile compared with chemotherapy.

 as a first-line therapy for patients with unresectable dMMR or MSI-H mCRC based on results from the KEYNOTE-177 study. The regimen should now be considered a standard of care for this patient population, Chu adds. 

Notably, patients with dMMR or MSI-H mCRC account for about 5% of the overall mCRC population. Although the subset is small, the activity of pembrolizumab in this space confirms the need for precision medicine and personalized therapeutic approaches for patients with CRC, concludes Chu.

Edward Chu, MD, MMS, discusses the role of pembrolizumab in patients with mismatch repair deficient or microsatellite instability–high metastatic colorectal cancer.  



Dr. Chu on the Role of Pembrolizumab in dMMR/MSI-H mCRC 

Edward Chu, MD, MMS, director, National Cancer Institute-designated Albert Einstein Cancer Center, vice president for cancer medicine, Montefiore Medicine, professor of medicine and molecular pharmacology, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, discusses the impact of the phase 3 MK-3475-177/KEYNOTE-177 trial in ​metastatic colorectal cancer (​mCRC). 

KEYNOTE-177 randomized patients with microsatellite instability–high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) stage IV CRC to receive frontline pembrolizumab (Keytruda) or ​investigator's choice of standard​-of-care chemotherapy, says Chu. 

Notably, prior to this trial, pembrolizumab was only approved to treat patients with CRC who have progressed following prior treatment and who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options or with MSI-H or dMMR CRC that has progressed following treatment with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan, Chu explains. 

On June 29, 2020, based on results from the KEYNOTE-177 study, pembrolizumab received FDA approval as a first-line therapy for patients with unresectable or metastatic MSI-H or dMMR CRC, Chu concludes. 

Edward Chu, MD, MMS, discusses the impact of the phase 3 MK-3475-177/KEYNOTE-177 trial in ​metastatic colorectal cancer.

Edward Chu, MD

Articles

Dr. Chu on Ongoing Efforts to Address Disparities in Lung Cancer

Dr. Chu on the Importance of Identifying MSI Status in mCRC

Dr. Chu on the Role of Pembrolizumab in dMMR/MSI-H mCRC

Dr. Chu on the Impact of the KEYNOTE-177 Trial in mCRC