Key clinical point: Patients with microsatellite stable (MSS) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with liver metastasis showed resistance to programmed cell death receptor 1/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) inhibition, whereas those without liver involvement may derive clinical benefit.
Major finding: Patients without vs with liver metastases had a significantly superior objective response rate (19.5% vs 0.0%; P less than .001) and median progression-free survival (PFS; 4.0 months vs 1.5 months; P less than .001). Liver metastasis at the time of initiation of PD-1/PD-L1 therapy was the most significant factor associated with worse PFS (hazard ratio, 7.00; P < .001).
Study details: Findings are from a retrospective cohort study of 95 patients with MSS mCRC who received PD-1/PD-L1–targeting therapy after progression with prior standard chemotherapy.
Disclosures: No source of funding was declared. Dr. Fakih reported receiving honoraria and research funding and serving as an advisor and on the speakers’ bureau for various sources. No other disclosures were reported.
Source: Wang C et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Aug 9. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.18416 .