Dr. Overman Discusses Nivolumab in Patients With dMMR/MSI-H mCRC

Michael J. Overman, MD, associate professor, department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses nivolumab (Opdivo) in patients with DNA mismatch repair-deficient/microsatellite instability-high (dMMR/MSI-H) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

In an analysis of the main arm of the CheckMate-142 study, investigators evaluated the idea of using anti-PD—L1 therapy in patients with dMMR/MSI-H mCRC. Fifty-three patients received nivolumab at 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks, and the primary endpoint of this study was overall response rate per RECIST 1.1 criteria. Other endpoints included progression-free survival, overall survival, safety, and tolerability.

Overman says that patients with dMMR have a lot of mutations, which are immunogenic—leading to the hypothesis that this group would be responsive to an immune-based therapy. Results confirmed this, as nivolumab continued to provide clinically meaningful and durable responses and long-term survival in patients with dMMR/MSI-H mCRC.