Immune checkpoint blockade in microsatellite instable colorectal cancers: Back to the clinic

The active Th1/CTL immune microenvironment of Microsatellite Instable colorectal cancer (CRC) is counterbalanced by up-regulated expression of multiple immune checkpoints, suggesting that defective mismatch repair may be a biomarker to select CRC patients for treatment with checkpoint inhibitors. This hypothesis is currently being tested in two clinical trials.