Dr. Marshall on Changes With Adjuvant Treatment in CRC

John L. Marshall, MD, chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, professor of medicine and oncology, and director, Otto J. Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Georgetown-Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses recent changes to the adjuvant treatment landscape in colorectal cancer (CRC).

In stage I, II, and III CRC, molecular testing for microsatellite instability has become a standard of care, explains Marshall. Additionally, data have shown that circulating tumor DNA can be used to guide treatment decisions for patients with CRC.

Notably, 3 months of adjuvant chemotherapy has been shown to be noninferior to 6 months of adjuvant chemotherapy, Marshall says. However, the switch to shorter-term chemotherapy versus longer-term chemotherapy has not been widely received, and many are reluctant to utilize the shortened regimen in practice, explains Marshall. However, dialing back chemotherapy can yield the same benefits for patients, concludes Marshall.