Dr. Halfdanarson on the KEYNOTE-177 Trial in MSI-H/dMMR mCRC
In Partnership With:
Thorvardur (Thor) Halfdanarson, MD, discusses the KEYNOTE-177 trial in microsatellite instability-high/mismatch repair deficient metastatic colorectal cancer.
Thorvardur (Thor) Halfdanarson, MD, associate professor of medicine, Division of Medical Oncology; medical oncologist; assistant program director, Hematology/Oncology fellowship program, Mayo Clinic, discusses the KEYNOTE-177 trial in microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H)/mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).
The randomized, open-label phase 3 KEYNOTE-177 study evaluated pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in patients with MSI-H/dMMR mCRC, says Halfdanarson. Results from the trial were presented during the 2020 ASCO Virtual Scientific Program.
Findings from the study demonstrated a doubling in progression-free survival with pembrolizumab compared with chemotherapy in this patient population.
On June 29, 2020, the FDA approved pembrolizumab as first-line therapy for patients with MSI-H/dMMR mCRC, according to results from the trial.
In recent years, the field has focused on the continuum of therapy, sparking interest in aggressive induction therapies followed by maintenance, as well as molecular targets, Halfdanarson concludes.
