Combining Chemotherapy with Immunotherapy in Colorectal Cancer: A Review

American Cancer Society estimates that about 1 in 21 men and 1 in 23 women in US will develop colorectal cancer during their lifetime. Due to the advances in screening and treatment modalities, the mortality rate has reduced. Rising resistance to treatment has directed the focus towards different approaches as combination therapies involving different treatment techniques available. One such approach is chemo-immunotherapy that aims to modulate TIME and improve the response to immunotherapy. The chemo-immunotherapy has shown a positive impact on improving the outcome of CRC treatment. The ensemble of results discussed herein supports the role of biomarkers in determining the most effective treatment algorithm. Comprehensive knowledge about the off-target effects of the cytotoxic drugs helps in designing more efficacious combined treatment. The time-window for optimal combination must also be considered carefully.