Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: 2022 Immunotherapy Research Updates

Last August, CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR Greg Sonnenberg of Weill Cornell Medicine led work published in Cell that revealed certain immune cells called ILC3s tend to be drastically reduced and functionally altered in people with colorectal cancer, and that disrupting their functions in mice leads to aggressive colon cancer and greatly reduces the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapies. In addition to identifying patients at risk of developing colorectal cancer, these cells could also potentially be targeted to prevent and treat the disease.

This March for Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, discover the latest clinical trials, research insights, and progress for a future immune to colorectal cancer.

Colorectal Cancer Treatment Update 

At the CRI Virtual Immunotherapy Patient Summit last October, Dr. Van Morris of MD Anderson Cancer Center discussed the latest developments in colorectal cancer, including crucial biomarkers, cutting-edge clinical trials, and new information on Lynch syndrome. 

Colorectal Cancer Questions Answered

Dr. Morris didn’t have a chance to answer all the questions in his 40-minute session during CRI's patient summit, so we followed up with him afterwards to discuss maintenance therapy, side effects, gene sequencing, and staying healthy in remission. 

READ Colorectal Cancer Q&A

Colon Cancer Patient Story

With a family history of cancer, Michaela was not surprised by a diagnosis of colon cancer. However, genetic counseling and knowledge of Lynch syndrome led her to an immunotherapy clinical trial that saved her life. Today, she has been cancer-free for over three years.

Read Michaela's Colon Cancer Story

Colorectal Cancer Researcher

CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR Ivan Zanoni, PhD, aims to determine the role interferons play in the development of colorectal cancer and design new treatments to help patients.

Read About Ivan's Colorectal Cancer Research

Immunotherapy for Colorectal Cancer Info Update

The U.S. FDA approved two new indications for cetuximab (ERBITUX®) for subsets of patients with colorectal cancer in 2021. As the research and treatment landscape evolves, we keep our information up to date. 

READ Colorectal Cancer UPDATE

Find a Colorectal Cancer Clinical Trial

A variety of new and promising cancer immunotherapy treatments are only available to patients in clinical trials. Help speed the development of potentially lifesaving drugs. Discover trials for which you or a loved one may be eligible with the CRI Immunotherapy Clinical Trial Finder.

FIND A Cancer Clinical TRIAL

Support Colorectal Cancer  Research

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a known risk factor for colorectal cancer. Earlier this year, CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR and CLIP Investigator Gregory Sonnenberg of Weill Cornell Medicine discovered that HB-EGF, a growth factor produced by rare immune cells in the intestine, can protect against IBD. In addition to helping those with IBD, this breakthrough could also yield benefits for people with other autoimmune diseases as well as new research pathways for colorectal cancer. This Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, support lifesaving cancer immunotherapy research. 

Donate to colorectal cancer research