The CRC Digest

Curated CRC research — accessible, accurate, actionable

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

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.

CRC Research Update

• ◆ Phase 2 trial tests adenosine pathway blocker in heavily pretreated mCRC

  The ARC-9 study evaluated etrumadenant combined with chemotherapy versus regorafenib in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who had received multiple prior treatments. This approach targets the adenosine pathway to potentially enhance treatment response in advanced disease. (Clinical Cancer Research)

• ◇ Vietnamese study identifies distinct dMMR subtypes with different clinical profiles

  Research in Vietnamese colorectal cancer patients found that deficient mismatch repair tumors include MutL-deficient and MutS-deficient subtypes that may have different clinicopathologic characteristics, which could influence immunotherapy response and prognosis. (Cancer Management and Research)

• ▪ Aspirin shows sex-specific effects on post-colonoscopy colorectal cancer risk

  A Swedish registry study from 2007-2016 examined whether aspirin use affects the risk of colorectal cancer diagnosed after a negative colonoscopy, finding that effects may differ between men and women. (European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology)

• ♥ Home-based prehabilitation programs may improve outcomes before CRC surgery

  A systematic review and meta-analysis found that multimodal prehabilitation programs addressing physical fitness, nutrition, and psychological well-being before colorectal cancer surgery show potential benefits for recovery and quality of life. (Supportive Care in Cancer)

• ◇ Tumor location affects recurrence patterns after curative CRC surgery

  A retrospective cohort study examined whether right-sided versus left-sided colorectal tumors show different patterns of recurrence and survival outcomes following curative surgery. (Clinical Colorectal Cancer)

Research continues to advance our understanding of treatment options, biomarkers, and supportive care for the colorectal cancer community.