Pembrolizumab in the Treatment of Patients with Microsatellite Unstable Colorectal Cancer

Introduction

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common tumours in the world in both men and women, while chemotherapy and surgery remain the standard of care for these patients [1] Microsatellite instability is responsible for about 15% of these tumours, with 5% of all CRC being associated with hereditary MSI [2]. While MSI is typically associated with a better prognosis and longer OS, it is also known to be a predictor of poorer response to chemotherapy with 5-FU derivates [3], fluoropyrimidines, platinum compounds and methylating agents [4] MSI is responsible for a high lymphocyte infiltration in the tumour microenvironment, which makes these tumours good candidates for immune based therapy [5], such as the PD-1 blocker pembrolizumab.

Colorectal cancer with microsatellite instability

Microsatellite instability is responsible for a great variability in microsatellites’ size in the patients’ genome, associated with DNA mutations and high neoantigen production, facilitating the recognition of the tumour by the host immune system [6]. MSI CRC is usually associated with younger age of onset, proximal located tumours and a high lymphocytic reaction, as well as a lower risk of nodal and distant metastases [7]. These tumours have a highly active immune microenvironment, with high CD8+ T-cells activation and an upregulation of immune checkpoints such as PD-1/PD-L1, favouring this checkpoint as a potential therapeutic target [1].

The PD-1/PD-L1 signalling axis is upregulated in microsatellite unstable CRC, impairing the antitumour immune response [8] MSI is associated with a high number of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes that are PD-L1 positive, which in turn is associated with a good prognosis [9]. Furthermore, the number of DNA replication errors present in MSI tumours are recognized by the host immune cells as foreign, resulting in a high immune infiltration (mainly CD8+ T-cells), favouring the response of these tumours to ICI.8, [10]. Several studies have been conducted in order to assess the response of MSI CRC to immunotherapy, such as PD-1 and PD-L1 blockers (such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab, both PD-1 blockers), showing good responses to these therapies [11].

Pembrolizumab in the treatment of CRC with MSI

Pembrolizumab is a humanized monoclonal IgG4 antibody which binds to PD-1, blocking the interactions of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis, enhancing the immune recognition of the tumour and facilitating the subsequent response [11]. Clinical trials such as KEYNOTE-016, KEYNOTE-164 and KEYNOTE-028 have shown favourable outcomes of patients with MSI tumours regarding the OS, ORR and PFS in the patient groups treated with pembrolizumab [12-14]. In the most recent KEYNOTE-177 trial, patients with MSI or dMMR with previously untreated CRC were randomly assigned to receive pembrolizumab or chemotherapy (crossover from the chemotherapy group to the pembrolizumab group was allowed if disease progression was observed). The primary endpoints were PFS and OS with a median follow-up of 32.4 months [15].

Pembrolizumab was proven superior to chemotherapy mainly regarding PFS (16.5 months vs. 8.2 with chemotherapy, p=0.0002). Besides that, after 24 months of follow-up, the mean survival was 13.7 months in the pembrolizumab treated group, against 10.8 months in the chemotherapy group [15]. Furthermore, there was a higher overall response in the pembrolizumab group (43.8%) than in the chemotherapy group (33.1%). At 24 months there were 83% of patients with ongoing response in the pembrolizumab group, with only 35% of patients in the chemotherapy group [15]. Regarding adverse effects, the chemotherapy group has also shown to have greater rates of side effects (66% vs. 22%) than the group treated with pembrolizumab [15].

Conclusion

CRC is one of the most common tumours in the world, with MSI having an important role in both the development of these tumours and their response to the available therapies, making the response to chemotherapy worse than in other CRC subtypes. MSI is also responsible for a characteristic tumour microenvironment which favours these tumours’ response to immunotherapy, mainly through the blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis, such as the PD-1 blocker pembrolizumab. On that note, clinical trials show the good response rates and improvement in OS of patients with MSI CRC treated with pembrolizumab, making this the rationale for the implementation of this antibody in the treatment of CRC with MSI.

Acknowledgement

None.

Conflict of Interest

There are no conflicts of interest to declare.

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