ICARE Newsletter Winter 2018

Advances in New Treatments for Individuals with Lynch Syndrome

A recently published phase II clinical trial investigated the use of a new class of drugs (called PD-1 Inhibitors) in DNA mismatch repair-deficient/ microsatellite instability-high colorectal tumors (which are features seen in the majority of colorectal tumors from individuals with Lynch Syndrome) among patients with metastatic disease.1 Investigators found patients who received two PD-1 Inhibitors (compared to just one PD-1 inhibitor, which had already shown to be of benefit2) had better response rates which lasted longer while maintaining the safety of the drug. Overall, 50% of these patients did not have progression of their colorectal cancer after 2 years. This treatment strategy represents a promising new option. Additional studies are already underway to evaluate this drug combination as a first line of treatment.

1Overman et al. J Clin Oncol. 2018 Jan 20:JCO2017769901. PMID:29355075.
2Overman et al. Lancet Oncol. 2017 Sep;18(9):1182-1191. PMID:28734759.

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