BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has revolutionized treatment of mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR)/microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). However, there is no evidence on the optimal treatment duration. We aimed to compare outcomes of different immunotherapy durations. METHODS: An international multicenter retrospective cohort study of immunotherapy-na•ve dMMR/MSI-H mCRC patients who received immunotherapy between 2014-2024. Fixed treatment duration of two years was compared to treatment duration beyond two years. Fixed treatment duration of one year was compared to treatment duration beyond one year. Subgroup analysis was performed for patients who experienced CR. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazard regression model were used to analyze the effect of all exposure variables on OS. RESULTS: The study cohort included 757 dMMR/MSI-H mCRC patients treated with ICB. Median follow-up time was 46.7 months (IQR 28.5-70.3). There was no statistically significant difference in OS between patients treated for a two-year fixed-duration (n = 83) and those treated beyond two years (n = 139) in both the univariable and multivariable analysis (HR=0.65 95 %CI 0.14-3.07 p = 0.59 and HR=0.61 95 %CI 0.12-3.10 p = 0.6, respectively). The comparison between one-year fixed-duration versus continuing treatment beyond one year included 27 and 330 patients, respectively. For patients who achieved CR, discontinuing treatment after one year was not associated with a negative impact on OS (p = 0.5). CONCLUSIONS: Discontinuing immunotherapy after two years is a reasonable option for dMMR/MSI-H mCRC patients with ongoing response. Treatment discontinuation after one year may be considered for patients achieving CR. Further prospective studies are needed to define the most appropriate duration of therapy.

Author Info: (1) Department of Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Tel-Aviv, Israel; Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: Ofer.margalit@sheba.health.gov.il. (2)

Author Info: (1) Department of Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Tel-Aviv, Israel; Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: Ofer.margalit@sheba.health.gov.il. (2) Department of Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Tel-Aviv, Israel; Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. (3) Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. (4) Department of Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Tel-Aviv, Israel; Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. (5) University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. (6) Sorbonne UniversitŽ, H™pital Saint Antoine, Assistance Publique H™pitaux de Paris, France; UnitŽ Mixte de Recherche Scientifique 938, and SIRIC CURAMUS, Paris, France. (7) University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. (8) Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy. (9) Department of Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Tel-Aviv, Israel; Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: Ben.boursi@sheba.health.gov.il.