13 Aug 2026

CRC Research Update — August 13, 2026

Creator: The CRC Digest
Published: 2026-08-13T20:27:10Z

Today's colorectal cancer research highlights

2 min read

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IMPORTANT: The CRC Digest curates and summarizes publicly available research for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this newsletter constitutes medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendation. The information provided should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment. Content is generated with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team. We are not medical professionals. Individual results, treatments, and outcomes vary.

Signal Key

TRIAL DATA clinical trial results, efficacy data, survival endpoints TREATMENT new treatment options, regimen changes, combination therapies REGULATORY FDA/EMA approvals, guideline updates, NCCN/ESMO changes RESEARCH cancer biology, biomarker discoveries, resistance pathways SCREENING screening, colonoscopy guidelines, liquid biopsy, molecular profiling LIVING WITH CRC survivorship, quality of life, side effects, patient decision-making, caregiver support

CRC Research Update

TRIAL DATA
Dual immunotherapy may outperform single-agent pembrolizumab in MSI-H metastatic colorectal cancer
An indirect comparison using reconstructed patient data from KEYNOTE-177 and CheckMate 8HW suggests nivolumab-ipilimumab may offer progression-free survival benefits over pembrolizumab in first-line MSI-H/dMMR metastatic disease, though grade 3/4 immune-related adverse events were higher. (ESMO Gastrointest Oncol)
LIVING WITH CRC
Phase III trial launches to prevent oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy in adjuvant treatment
The PROSPER trial will test lecithinized superoxide dismutase (PC-SOD) against placebo to prevent chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in stage II/III colorectal cancer patients receiving adjuvant mFOLFOX6, following promising phase II results. (ESMO Gastrointest Oncol)

🧬 Biomarker Spotlight

Research by genetic subtype — KRAS, BRAF, MSI-H, HER2, and more

Co-mutations in CREBBP/EP300 and POLE/POLD1 identify high tumor mutational burden in MSS colorectal cancer
Analysis of over 30,000 tumors found that co-mutation of CREBBP/EP300 and POLE/POLD1 strongly predicted elevated tumor mutational burden in microsatellite-stable disease (median 155.9 vs. 5.4 Mut/Mb) and was associated with improved survival and immunotherapy response. (Int J Mol Sci)
Serbian cohort reveals MLH1 as predominant Lynch syndrome variant
Germline testing of 176 high-risk individuals in Serbia identified pathogenic variants predominantly in MLH1, highlighting the need for population-specific genetic testing strategies in hereditary colorectal cancer screening. (Int J Mol Sci)

Research continues to refine treatment strategies across molecular subtypes and improve quality of life for patients navigating colorectal cancer care.

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