Efficacy and Safety of Neoadjuvant Subcutaneous Envafolimab in dMMR/MSI-H Locally Advanced Colon Cancer

Abstract

Background

Neoadjuvant immunotherapy with programmed death-ligand 1 blockade for colon cancer, especially for mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR)/high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) colon cancer, has gained considerable attention recently.

Objective

This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant subcutaneous envafolimab in patients with dMMR/MSI-H locally advanced colon cancer.

Methods

Patients with dMMR/MSI-H locally advanced colon cancer treated with envafolimab at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center and Yunnan Cancer Hospital from October 2021 to July 2023 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. The primary endpoint was the pathological complete response (CR) rate, and secondary endpoints were treatment-related adverse events and complete clinical response rate.

Results

Overall, 15 patients were analyzed. After neoadjuvant immunotherapy with envafolimab, six patients achieved a CR, with five partial responses, and four stable disease. Three patients achieving a complete clinical response chose to accept a “watch and wait” strategy, and surgery was performed in 12 patients. Postoperative pathology results revealed seven patients achieved pathological CRs, and five patients achieved tumor regression grade 2, with 66.7% of the total CR rate. The most common treatment-related adverse events were pruritus and rash (40%), with no severe cases. No recurrences occurred over a 7.9-month follow-up.

Conclusions

Envafolimab yielded promising surgical outcomes and safety in dMMR/MSI-H locally advanced colon cancer, representing a promising treatment modality for this population.