The Role of Combination Checkpoint Blockade Is Evolving in MSI-H mCRC: With Elena Élez, MD, PhD

Welcome to OncLive On Air®! I’m your host today, Jax DiEugenio.

In today’s episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Elena Élez, MD, PhD, about the evolving role of immunotherapy for patients with microsatellite instability–high (MSI‑H) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Dr Élez is a medical oncology consultant at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and a senior investigator at Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology in Barcelona, Spain.
In our exclusive interview, Dr Élez discussed recent data comparing nivolumab (Opdivo) monotherapy with nivolumab plus ipilimumab (Yervoy) across multiple lines of therapy in patients with MSI-H mCRC. She detailed efficacy and quality‑of‑life outcomes, noting that the combination appeared to offer enhanced clinical benefit without a negative effect on tolerability. Dr Élez also highlighted the importance of tailoring immunotherapy strategies based on patient characteristics and treatment goals and reflected on the nuances of sequencing single‑agent vs combination checkpoint blockade.
Additionally, Dr Élez reviewed several investigator‑initiated trials presented at the 2025 ESMO Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress, including studies exploring immunotherapy in localized rectal cancer, novel biomarker‑driven treatment approaches, and the integration of liquid biopsy to refine patient selection in mCRC. She emphasized how these findings may inform future clinical practice and contribute to ongoing optimization of immunotherapy in gastrointestinal cancers.

That’s all we have for today! Thank you for listening to this episode of OncLive On Air. Check back throughout the week for exclusive interviews with leading experts in the oncology field.

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