A novel immune-based score and its immune contexture exploration in metastatic colorectal cancer

In this video, Dr Gertjan Rasschaert, digestive oncologist at the University Hospitals Leuven, discusses a poster presented at ASCO GI evaluating a new immunoscore in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The Immunoscore (IS) has been proposed as a signature of host immune cancer response reflecting a favorable prognosis. Based on these findings, the AtezoTRIBE, ‘Immunoscore immune checkpoint’ (IS-IC) was introduced. This model was shown to have predictive potential for a benefit of immune checkpoint blockage (ICB) in mCRC). In the poster discussed by Dr Rasschaert, the application of IS-IC was evaluated through multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) in 15 prospectively collected, treatment naïve, primary CRC samples. The study confirmed the ease of replicating IS-IC and the presence of ICB sensitive stroma in the high score group. The study also explored the immune context in the tumor core and the invasive margin showing important regional differences. For example, natural killer cells were only increased at invasive margins.