13-10-2021

Update in therapeutic options for Lynch-associated colorectal cancer patients

Iosune Baraibar Argota, MD, PhD, joined the Gastrointestinal and Neuroendocrine Tumors Unit of the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital directed by Dr. Josep Tabernero in 2019, where she develops her clinical and research work within the colorectal cancer program coordinated by Dr Elena Élez. Her area of subspecialization is focused on the development of new molecular therapies based on immunotherapy and the study of the microbiome and colorectal cancer in young patients within national and international projects.

This webinar will focus on therapeutic options for Lynch-associated colorectal cancer patients. Identification of individuals with inherited predispositions to cancer, including Lynch syndrome, allows for the uptake of specific screening and management that in the long term impacts in cancer prevention and cancer-related death.

The discovery of the germline mismatch repair machinery and microsatellite instability (MSI) as the etiologic basis of Lynch syndrome-associated colorectal cancer have led to tremendous progress in therapeutic strategies for this entity. In fact, the approval of immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of Lynch syndrome–associated colorectal cancer.

Finally, other strategies including chemotherapeutic prevention agents such as aspirin and strategies directed to the immune system to facilitate primary cancer prevention in otherwise-healthy Lynch syndrome carriers are under investigation.