Zhang C, Wu SH, Jin L, Lu L, Li J, Jin S. Propensity score-based real-world study of immune checkpoint inhibitor combination therapy in microsatellite stable/proficient mismatch repair metastatic colorectal cancer. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(11): 124022 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.124022]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Shui Jin, Department of Gastroenterology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 64 Chaohu North Road, Juchao District, Chaohu, Hefei 238000, Anhui Province, China. e-ch2009640010@fy.ahmu.edu.cn
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Oncology
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Zhang C, Wu SH, Jin L, Lu L, Li J, Jin S. Propensity score-based real-world study of immune checkpoint inhibitor combination therapy in microsatellite stable/proficient mismatch repair metastatic colorectal cancer. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(11): 124022 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.124022]
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Nov 15, 2026; 18(11): 124022 Published online Nov 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.124022
Propensity score-based real-world study of immune checkpoint inhibitor combination therapy in microsatellite stable/proficient mismatch repair metastatic colorectal cancer
Chang Zhang, Shi-Hao Wu, Lei Jin, Liang Lu, Ji Li, Shui Jin
Chang Zhang, Lei Jin, Liang Lu, Shui Jin, Department of Gastroenterology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 238000, Anhui Province, China
Chang Zhang, Shi-Hao Wu, Lei Jin, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230000, Anhui Province, China
Shi-Hao Wu, Department of Burns, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230000, Anhui Province, China
Ji Li, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110000, Liaoning Province, China
Author contributions: Zhang C, Wu SH, Jin L, and Li J contributed to formal analysis; Wu SH, Li J, and Jin S participated in visualization; Zhang C and Wu SH participated in methodology; Zhang C and Jin L participated in data curation; Wu SH, Jin S, and Lu L participated in writing - review & editing; Zhang C participated in conceptualization, software, and wrote the original draft; Wu SH participated in investigation; Jin S participated in validation and accessed and verified the study data; Lu L participated in supervision. All authors critically reviewed and provided final approval of the manuscript.
AI contribution statement: The authors declare that no artificial intelligence tools were used in the preparation, analysis, or writing of this manuscript.
Supported by Key Project of Natural Science Research in Universities of Anhui Province, No. 2023AH050581.
Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. KYXM-202605-018.
Informed consent statement: The need for patient consent was waived due to the retrospective nature of the study.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Data sharing statement: The authors will provide the raw data that backs the conclusions without extra limits.
Corresponding author: Shui Jin, Department of Gastroenterology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 64 Chaohu North Road, Juchao District, Chaohu, Hefei 238000, Anhui Province, China. e-ch2009640010@fy.ahmu.edu.cn
Received: June 5, 2026 Revised: July 27, 2026 Accepted: September 10, 2026 Published online: November 15, 2026 Processing time: 144 Days and 8.6 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have limited efficacy in microsatellite stable/proficient mismatch repair metastatic colorectal cancer. This real-world study showed that immune checkpoint inhibitor-based combination therapy with chemotherapy and anti-angiogenic agents was associated with improved progression-free survival after propensity score adjustment. Liver metastasis and tumor sidedness showed exploratory prognostic and treatment-related signals, although subgroup findings require further validation. Post-treatment neutrophil‑to‑lymphocyte ratio and systemic immune‑inflammation index may provide additional risk stratification value. These findings offer clinically relevant evidence supporting further prospective evaluation of immune checkpoint inhibitor-based combination strategies in microsatellite stable/proficient mismatch repair metastatic colorectal cancer.
