Multicenter Retrospective Study on Optimizing Combination Immunotherapy Strategies in MSS/MSI-L/pMMR Advanced Colorectal Cancer

This multicenter retrospective cohort study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of combination immunotherapy strategies in microsatellite stable (MSS), microsatellite instability-low (MSI-L), and mismatch repair-proficient (pMMR) advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Given the limited response of these CRC subtypes to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) alone, this study seeks to identify optimal combination regimens that can enhance therapeutic efficacy.

Study Objectives:

• To assess clinical outcomes (e.g., overall survival, progression-free survival, objective response rate) in patients receiving different immunotherapy combinations.
• To evaluate predictive biomarkers that may influence treatment response in MSS/MSI-L/pMMR CRC.
• To compare the efficacy of various immunotherapy-based regimens, including ICIs combined with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or anti-angiogenic agents like bevacizumab.

Methods:

• Data Source: Patient records from multiple institutions will be retrospectively analyzed.
• Patient Population: Individuals diagnosed with MSS/MSI-L/pMMR advanced CRC who have received at least one line of immunotherapy-based combination treatment.
• Data Collection: Demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment regimens, survival outcomes, and biomarker profiles.
• Statistical Analysis: Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, Cox proportional hazards model, and subgroup analyses based on biomarker expression.

Eligibility Criteria:

Approval was obtained from the institutional review boards of all four centers, adhering to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines and reported in accordance with the STROCSS 2024 criteria. Informed consent was not required.

• Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with MSS metastatic colorectal cancer who underwent immunotherapy.
• Comprehensive collection of demographic and molecular characteristics.
• Patients were included irrespective of treatment context.
• Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals lacking definitive pathological diagnosis.
• Patients without response evaluation data.
• Cases missing pertinent follow-up information.

Treatment Response Evaluation:

Treatment responses were evaluated radiographically according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), version 1.1 guidelines.

Ethical Considerations:

Ethical approval was obtained from the institutional ethics committee of our hospital, ensuring compliance with ethical and regulatory standards for retrospective studies.

Expected Outcomes:

The study aims to identify effective treatment strategies for MSS/MSI-L/pMMR CRC patients, provide real-world evidence on the role of combination immunotherapy, and explore potential predictive biomarkers to improve patient selection for immunotherapy-based approaches.

This research will contribute to optimizing treatment strategies for immunotherapy-resistant CRC subtypes and guide future clinical trials.

Inclusion criteria

1) study subjects were mCRC patients with explicitly stated MSS/MSI-L/pMMR status; 2) at least one cohort included immunotherapy treatment; 3); primary outcomes of this study were defined as Disease Control Rate (DCR) and Progression-Free Survival (PFS); secondary outcomes included Objective Response Rate (ORR), Overall Survival (OS), and Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) Exclusion Criteria: individuals lacking definitive pathological diagnosis, response evaluation, or pertinent follow-up data

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