Dr. Nelson on the CheckMate-142 Trial in MSI-H/dMMR mCRC

Douglas A. Nelson, MD, associate professor in the Department of General Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses results from the CheckMate-142 in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD, FACP, of University of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, recently reported a clinical update from the phase II CheckMate-142 trial, which is examining the frontline use of nivolumab (Opdivo) plus low-dose ipilimumab (Yervoy) in patients with microsatellite instability—high (MSI-H)/DNA mismatch repair–deficient mCRC, says Nelson.

After longer follow-up of 19.9 months, the combination led to a high response rate of 64% per investigator assessment, which proved to be consistent across all evaluated subgroups, says Nelson. These results are particularly interesting because they were achieved by using immunotherapy in the first-line setting, adds Nelson. Up until now, immunotherapy has mostly been considered for use in the second-line settings and beyond for patients with MSI-H advanced mCRC, concludes Nelson.