Discussing the Novel Treatments in Colorectal and Anal Cancer

Van K. Morris, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, describes the novel treatments he is excited about in the treatment landscapes for colorectal and anal cancers right now.

According to Morris, there are multiple ongoing clinical trials he is looking forward to in terms of novel treatment strategies in these 2 patient populations. One novel approach being evaluated in a clinical trial is surgical resection for patients with traditionally unresectable oligometastatic disease. Other clinical trials are looking at the role of definitive radiotherapy in patients with traditionally unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer and ≤5 metastases.

For patients with anal cancer, there are a number of novel therapeutic approaches incorporating immunotherapy. Morris says that he is particularly excited about the NCI9673 trial. This is a randomized phase II clinical trial studying patients with unresectable, treatment-refractory metastatic anal cancer randomized to either single-agent nivolumab or a combination of nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy), an anti-CTLA-4 antibody.

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