Immune checkpoint inhibitors for patients with isolated peritoneal carcinomatosis from dMMR/MSI-H colorectal cancer, a BIG-RENAPE collaboration

Background: Immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors has significantly improved the survival of patients with MSI/dMMR mCRC. These tumors are associated with a specific metastatic spread, i.e. frequent peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) that may be treated surgically when there is no other metastatic location. We aimed at evaluating the prognosis of patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors for MSI/dMMR mCRC with isolated PC. Material and Methods: All consecutive patients with isolated PC from MSI/dMMR mCRC, initially considered as unresectable by multidisciplinary team meeting, treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors were included in this French multicenter cohort study. Results: Among 45 patients included, we observed 11 complete responses and 10 partial responses for an overall response rate iRECIST of 46%. After a median follow-up of 24.4 months, the median progressionfree survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were not reached. Seven of the eight patients who underwent cytoreductive surgery after treatment with anti-PD1 +/- anti-CTLA-4 were in complete pathologic response. Conclusion: These results demonstrate long-term benefit of immune checkpoint inhibitors for patients with isolated PC from MSI/dMMR mCRC. Such treatment appears as the best therapeutic option for patients with isolated PC from MSI/dMMR mCRC. With a majority of pathological complete responses for patients who underwent surgery for residual lesions, the value of such therapeutic strategy remains unknown.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the prognosis of patients with isolated peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) from MSI/dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. The results demonstrated long-term benefit of immune checkpoint inhibitors for patients with isolated PC from MSI/dMMR mCRC, making it the best therapeutic option. However, the value of surgery for residual lesions remains unknown.