Luis A. Diaz, MD, head of the division of Solid Tumor Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the responses seen with microsatellite-instability high (MSI-H) and NTRK fusions in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

MSI and NTRK fusions are present at a low level in multiple different tumor types. If found, the patient has dramatic responses that may be experienced for years, explains Diaz.

Further long-term research is needed to determine if these patients will achieve long-term survival or if they will progress, says Diaz.

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Dr. Diaz on Response Rates for MSI-H and NTRK Fusions in GI Cancer

Luis A. Diaz, MD, head of the division of Solid Tumor Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the response rates of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). 

The KEYNOTE-177 trial demonstrates that, in CRC and non-CRC, response rates with pembrolizumab are quite impressive. The progression-free survival and overall survival are quite durable, and it's recapitulated in entirely different studies, explains Diaz.

According to Diaz, what's impressive about the FDA approval is that it is not only across all tumor types, but it is in adults and children. This FDA approval has the potential to knock down the walls of how we think about cancer in the future, states Diaz. 

Luis A. Diaz, MD, head of the division of Solid Tumor Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the response rates of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

Dr. Diaz on Response Rates With Pembrolizumab for CRC

Luis A. Diaz, MD, head of the division of Solid Tumor Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the impact of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

In KEYNOTE-016, only 12 patients with CRC were reported, and it achieved a breakthrough therapy designation status by the FDA, explains Diaz. This led to pembrolizumab being investigated throughout multiple tumor types and it has demonstrated potent efficacy throughout.

Overall, patients with CRC being treated with pembrolizumab are experiencing a benefit, states Diaz.

Luis A. Diaz, MD

Articles

Dr. Diaz on Response Rates for MSI-H and NTRK Fusions in GI Cancer

Dr. Diaz on Response Rates With Pembrolizumab for CRC

Dr. Diaz on Pembrolizumab for CRC