Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34517894›Full record

ArticleJournal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR2021

Regorafenib enhances anti-PD1 immunotherapy efficacy in murine colorectal cancers and their combination prevents tumor regrowth.

Dennis Doleschel, Sabine Hoff, Susanne Koletnik, Anne Rix, Dieter Zopf, Fabian Kiessling, Wiltrud Lederle

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 67 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
67citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
7.1field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

67 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 108 citations in OpenAlex.

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  4. Phase 2 Trial of Regorafenib in Recurrent/Metastatic Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma.Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research · 2024
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  7. [Novel therapeutic strategies for liver metastases driven by the common microenvironment].Zhonghua gan zang bing za zhi = Zhonghua ganzangbing zazhi = Chinese journal of hepatology · 2026
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7 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Dennis DoleschelInstitute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
Sabine HoffResearch and Development, Preclinical Research Oncology, Bayer AG, Berlin, Germany.
Susanne KoletnikInstitute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
Anne RixInstitute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
Dieter ZopfResearch and Development, Preclinical Research Oncology, Bayer AG, Berlin, Germany. dieter.zopf@nuvisan.com.
Fabian KiesslingInstitute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
Wiltrud LederleInstitute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. wlederle@ukaachen.de.
RWTH Aachen University · DEBayer (Germany) · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPatients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) have a poor prognosis. Combinations of immunotherapies and anti-angiogenic agents are currently being evaluated in clinical trials. In this study, the multikinase inhibitor regorafenib (REG) was combined with an anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (aPD1) antibody in syngeneic murine microsatellite-stable (MSS) CT26 and hypermutated MC38 colon cancer models to gain mechanistic insights into potential drug synergism.

methodsGrowth and progression of orthotopic CT26 and subcutaneous MC38 colon cancers were studied under treatment with varying doses of REG and aPD1 alone or in combination. Sustained effects were studied after treatment discontinuation. Changes in the tumor microenvironment were assessed by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, and histological and molecular analyses.

resultsIn both models, REG and aPD1 combination therapy significantly improved anti-tumor activity compared with single agents. However, in the CT26 model, the additive benefit of aPD1 only became apparent after treatment cessation. The combination treatment efficiently prevented tumor regrowth and completely suppressed liver metastasis, whereas the anti-tumorigenic effects of REG alone were abrogated soon after drug discontinuation. During treatment, REG significantly reduced the infiltration of immunosuppressive macrophages and regulatory T (Treg) cells into the tumor microenvironment. aPD1 significantly enhanced intratumoral IFNγ levels. The drugs synergized to induce sustained M1 polarization and durable reduction of Treg cells, which can explain the sustained tumor suppression.

conclusionsThis study highlights the synergistic immunomodulatory effects of REG and aPD1 combination therapy in mediating a sustained inhibition of colon cancer regrowth, strongly warranting clinical evaluation in CRC, including MSS tumors.

Indexed as

AnimalsCell Line, TumorColorectal NeoplasmsDrug SynergismHumansImmunotherapyMicePhenylurea CompoundsProgrammed Cell Death 1 ReceptorPyridinesPhenylurea CompoundsProgrammed Cell Death 1 ReceptorPyridinesregorafenibAnti-PD1 antibodyColorectal cancerMacrophage polarizationMetastasisPreclinicalRegorafenib

Identifiers

PMID34517894
PMCPMC8436536
OpenAlexW3200675468

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.