Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is a late-stage colorectal malignancy often studied in refractory, late-line settings, including a phase II single-arm trial of anlotinib plus trifluridine tipiracil as a third-line strategy. It is also a key disease context for evaluating anti-angiogenic therapy such as bevacizumab and immunotherapy combinations centered on nivolumab. Recent literature highlights both treatment efficacy and prognostic modeling, including machine learning-driven multi-modal risk analysis in bevacizumab-treated patients. A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis examined nivolumab-based combinations with ipilimumab or binimetinib across microsatellite-stable (MSS) and microsatellite-instability-high (MSI-H) mCRC, underscoring the importance of molecular subtype in therapy selection. Overall, the evidence base reflects a refractory late-line disease setting where combination regimens and biomarker-informed approaches are being actively refined.
Treatment strategies
- A phase II, single-arm study in refractory late-line mCRC evaluated anlotinib plus trifluridine tipiracil as a third-line treatment strategy. (PMID:41719193)
- The same study context emphasizes mCRC as a refractory late-line disease population for combination therapy development. (PMID:41719193)
- Nivolumab-based combination regimens were systematically reviewed for efficacy and safety in mCRC. (PMID:41934582)
- The meta-analysis specifically compared combinations with ipilimumab or binimetinib in MSS and MSI-H mCRC. (PMID:41934582)
Prognostic and biomarker analysis
- A machine learning-driven multi-modal data fusion pipeline was developed for prognostic risk analysis in bevacizumab-treated mCRC. (PMID:41974756)
- This work positions mCRC as a disease setting for predictive modeling in patients receiving anti-angiogenic therapy. (PMID:41974756)
- The prognostic analysis focused on bevacizumab-treated patients, supporting risk stratification in routine treatment cohorts. (PMID:41974756)
- Molecular classification by MSS versus MSI-H status was incorporated into the nivolumab-based combination evidence base. (PMID:41934582)