Combination immunotherapy for colorectal cancer: Clinical applications, rationale, challenges, and future perspectives.

Jiang Fei, Changjing Cai, Wantao Wu, Hong Shen, Ying Han, Shan Zeng

Abstract readReview

In one paragraph

Review in Cell reports. Medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

3citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

Colorectal Cancer: Epidemiology, Risk Factors, Signaling Pathways, Clinical Features, Screening, Diagnosis, and Management.MedComm · 2026
Review
Sensitizing Colorectal Cancer to PARP Inhibitors: Biomarkers, Mechanisms, and Combination Strategies.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026
Review
FSCN1 Modulates Fatty Acid Metabolism and the Coordinated Activation of AKT/mTOR and p38 MAPK Pathways in Colorectal Cancer Cells.Oncology research · 2026
Article

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

6 authors.

Jiang FeiDepartment of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disease (Xiangya Hospital), Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China.

Changjing CaiDepartment of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disease (Xiangya Hospital), Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China.

Wantao WuDepartment of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disease (Xiangya Hospital), Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China.

Hong ShenDepartment of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disease (Xiangya Hospital), Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China.

Ying HanDepartment of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disease (Xiangya Hospital), Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China. Electronic address: yinghan@csu.edu.cn.

Shan ZengDepartment of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disease (Xiangya Hospital), Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China. Electronic address: zengshan2000@csu.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Although immunotherapy has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in deficient mismatch repair (dMMR)/microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) tumors, most proficient mismatch repair (pMMR)/microsatellite stability (MSS)/microsatellite instability-low (MSI-L) patients derive limited benefit. Combination strategies-including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiotherapy-offer promise for overcoming resistance. This review examines recent clinical advances in combination immunotherapy for CRC, with a focus on tumor microenvironment (TME) modulation and predictive biomarkers. By bridging preclinical insights and clinical applications, we aim to facilitate the optimization of therapeutic strategies and extend the benefits of immunotherapy across CRC subtypes.

Indexed as

Colorectal NeoplasmsImmunotherapyAnimalsCombined Modality TherapyHumansImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsMicrosatellite InstabilityTumor MicroenvironmentImmune Checkpoint Inhibitorscolorectal cancercombination therapyICIsimmunotherapyTME

Identifiers

PMID41950929

DOI10.1016/j.xcrm.2026.102728

PMCPMC13130654

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.