Additional treatment options

In addition to surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, you may be a candidate for advanced diagnostic and treatment options. Some of the options City of Hope offers are:

Advanced genomic testing

Genomic tumor tests may reveal the DNA mutations that are driving the growth of colorectal cancer. By identifying the mutations that occur in the cancer cell's genome our physicians may better understand what caused the tumor and provide cancer treatment therapies that specifically target changes in the tumor's genomic profile.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a broad category of cancer therapies that use the body's immune system to fight cancer cells. Drugs known as checkpoint inhibitors may be used t treat advanced colorectal cancer that has specific genomic features. Among the immunotherapies used to treat colorectal cancer are: 

Monoclonal antibodies: These drugs release the breaks on the immune system so it can destroy cancer cells. One example is drugs known as checkpoint inhibitors, which may be used to treat advanced colorectal cancer that has specific genomic features. Checkpoint inhibitors work by blocking specific checkpoint receptors, which are immune cells that distinguish good cells from bad cells.

T-cell therapy: this process uses T-cells (immune cells that fight infection) modified in a laboratory to recognize and destroy cancer cells. 

Cancer vaccines: These drugs are designed to trigger the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer antigens introduced to the patient through the vaccine. 

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy uses bioengineered drugs that target specific genes or proteins found on cancer cells. Among the targeted therapies used to treat colorectal cancer are:

Monoclonal antibody therapy: Drugs designed to block the area around cancer cells or the exterior of the cells to prevent them from growing and to destroy them. 

Small-molecule drugs: These therapies are designed to penetrate cancer cells, blocking them from growing and spreading. 

Clinical trials

City of Hope offers clinical trials as part of our commitment to bringing our patients new and innovative cancer treatment options, especially for patient with advanced cancer or who may have run out of standard-of-care approaches. The research team at City of Hope carefully identifies and studies new and emerging treatment options that are supported by scientific and investigational research. Your care team will work with you to determine if you qualify for an existing trial and, if so, help you enroll.