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Copyright ©The Author(s) 2025.
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Jul 15, 2025; 17(7): 106723
Published online Jul 15, 2025. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v17.i7.106723
Table 1 Standard treatments for colorectal cancer
Treatment method
Indication
Description
Surgical treatmentEarly-stage colorectal cancerResection of the primary tumor along with regional lymph nodes, typically for localized tumors without distant metastasis
ChemotherapyEarly-stage and advanced colorectal cancerSystemic treatment using cytotoxic agents to eradicate cancer cells. Chemotherapy is commonly employed adjuvantly after surgical resection to reduce recurrence risk or as a primary treatment in metastatic cases. Common agents include 5-FU, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan
Radiation therapyRectal cancerPrimarily utilized in rectal cancer for preoperative tumor downstaging or as postoperative adjuvant therapy to reduce the risk of local recurrence
Targeted therapyAdvanced colorectal cancerInvolves agents that specifically target cancer cell molecular markers, such as anti-angiogenic therapies or monoclonal antibodies. Bevacizumab (Avastin) and cetuximab (Erbitux) are among the most commonly used agents
ImmunotherapyAdvanced colorectal cancer, particularly MSI-H tumorsEmploys immune checkpoint inhibitors to enhance the body’s immune response against cancer. Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and nivolumab (Opdivo) are commonly used in microsatellite instability-high tumors
Interventional therapyLocally recurrent or unresectable advanced CRCIncludes localized procedures such as radiofrequency ablation and transarterial chemoembolization, aimed at controlling tumor progression in patients with advanced or inoperable disease
Chemotherapy combinationAdvanced colorectal cancer, particularly metastatic CRCA multimodal approach combining chemotherapy with targeted therapy or immunotherapy to improve therapeutic efficacy, commonly using regimens like FOLFOX or FOLFIRI
CRC: Colorectal cancer; MSI-H: Microsatellite instability-high; 5-FU: 5-fluorouracil.
Table 2 Chimeric antigen receptor-T drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration and China
Drug name
Indication
Approval date
Developer
Approved countries
Target
Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel)B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children and young adultsAugust 30, 2017 (FDA)NovartisUnited States, European, Canada, Australia, ChinaCD19
December 2018 (China)
Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel)Large B-cell lymphoma in adultsOctober 18, 2017 (FDA)Kite Pharma (Gilead)United States, European, Canada, ChinaCD19
February 2020 (China)
Tecartus (brexucabtagene autoleucel)Relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphomaJuly 24, 2020 (FDA)Kite Pharma (Gilead)United States, European, etc.CD19
Breyanzi (lisocabtagene maraleucel)Large B-cell lymphoma in adultsFebruary 5, 2021 (FDA)Bristol Myers SquibbUnited States, European, Canada, etc.CD19
Abecma (idecabtagene vicleucel)Multiple myelomaMarch 26, 2021 (FDA)Bristol Myers Squibb/Bluebird BioUnited States, European, ChinaBCMA
February 2022 (China)
Carvykti (ciltacabtagene autoleucel)Multiple myelomaFebruary 28, 2022 (FDA)Johnson and Johnson/Legend BiotechUnited States, European, ChinaBCMA
November 2022 (China)
Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel)Large B-cell lymphoma in adultsMay 2021 (China)NovartisChinaCD19
Blinatumomab (blincyto)B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemiaOctober 2019 (China)AmgenChinaCD19
CD: Cluster of differentiation; BCMA: B-cell maturation antigen; FDA: Food and Drug Administration.
Table 3 Clinical trials of chimeric antigen receptor-T cell therapy for colorectal cancer
Antigen
NCT number
Sponsor
Phases
Start date
Completion date
CEANCT04513431Ruijin HospitalEARLY_PHASE1August 30, 2020August 30, 2023
NCT02349724Southwest Hospital, ChinaPHASE1December 1, 2014December 1, 2019
NCT02959151Shanghai GeneChem Co., Ltd.PHASE1|PHASE2July 1, 2016July 1, 2018
NCT05396300Fang WJ, MDPHASE1May 25, 2022May 15, 2025
NCT05736731A2 Biotherapeutics Inc.PHASE1|PHASE2April 28, 2023December 1, 2028
NCT05240950Changhai HospitalPHASE1August 25, 2022December 25, 2025
NCT06043466Chongqing Precision Biotech Co., LtdPHASE1August 11, 2023December 31, 2027
NCT03682744Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.PHASE1September 13, 2018March 1, 2021
NCT02850536Roger Williams Medical CenterPHASE1February 1, 2017September 17, 2021
GUCY2CNCT06718738Beijing Immunochina Medical Science and Technology Co., Ltd.PHASE1December 15, 2024August 15, 2026
NCT06675513Wondercel Biotech (ShenZhen)EARLY_PHASE1November 10, 2024December 30, 2029
NCT05319314Innovative Cellular Therapeutics Inc.PHASE1August 1, 2022October 1, 2024
MSLNNCT05089266Shanghai Cell Therapy Group Co., LtdPHASE1November 30, 2021January 30, 2025
NCT06051695A2 Biotherapeutics Inc.PHASE1|PHASE2April 3, 2024June 1, 2029
NCT06256055UTC Therapeutics Inc.PHASE1March 5, 2024April 1, 2025
NKG2DLNCT05248048The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityEARLY_PHASE1September 13, 2021October 1, 2022
NCT04550663The Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical SchoolPHASE1September 25, 2020March 25, 2023
NCT04107142CytoMed Therapeutics Pte LtdPHASE1December 1, 2019March 1, 2021
NCT04991948Celyad OncologyPHASE1November 22, 2021May 25, 2038
MUC1NCT02617134PersonGen BioTherapeutics (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.PHASE1|PHASE2November 1, 2015November 1, 2018
NCT05239143Poseida Therapeutics, Inc.PHASE1February 15, 2022April 1, 2039
CDH17NCT06055439Chimeric TherapeuticsPHASE1|PHASE2May 15, 2024May 1, 2027
C-metNCT03638206Shenzhen BinDeBio Ltd.PHASE1|PHASE2March 1, 2018March 1, 2023
EGFRNCT06682793A2 Biotherapeutics Inc.PHASE1|PHASE2March 31, 2025March 31, 2030
EpCAMNCT05028933Zhejiang UniversityPHASE1September 30, 2021December 31, 2024
HER2NCT02713984Yang ZPHASE1|PHASE2March 1, 2016July 1, 2019
NCT03740256Baylor College of MedicinePHASE1December 14, 2020December 30, 2038
CD133NCT02541370Chinese PLA General HospitalPHASE1|PHASE2June 1, 2015June 1, 2019
LGR5NCT05759728Carina Biotech LimitedPHASE1|PHASE2October 24, 2023December 1, 2027
B7-H3NCT05190185PersonGen BioTherapeutics (Suzhou, Jiangsu Province) Co., Ltd.PHASE1June 1, 2021December 1, 2023
CEA: Carcinoembryonic antigen; NKG2DL: Natural killer group 2D receptor; MUC1: Mucin 1; C-met: Cellular-mesenchymal epithelial transition; EGFR: Epidermal growth factor receptor; EpCAM: Epithelial cell adhesion molecule; HER2: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2; CD: Cluster of differentiation; NCT: National clinical trials.