More Focus And Funding Becomes Crucial To Curing Colorectal Cancer

By Anjee Davis, MPPA, president, Fight Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is projected to become the leading cause of cancer deaths for those ages 20-49 by 2030, according to a 2021 JAMA report. The study estimates that in 2023 alone, 153,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Shockingly, about 13% of those cases will be among people under the age of 50, representing a 9% increase in cases in this age group since 2020. Despite these alarming statistics, colorectal cancer remains a disease that many people are uncomfortable talking about.

We have an opportunity to save 27,400 people through prevention, research, and better treatment options. And we are obligated to fight for that, which is exactly what Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC) does.

Fight CRC was founded in 2005 as an organization determined to propel science forward by ensuring that patients' real needs are at the core of conversations. Since that time, the survival rate for people with colorectal cancer has remained stagnant, and the treatment pipeline has stagnated as well. We need to reevaluate how we measure overall survival and to begin looking beyond only the "stage of colorectal cancer." Narrow goals of targeted therapies for specific demographics must be adjusted, and the science must be pushed forward. With people being diagnosed at younger ages and more advanced stages, quality of life must be factored into all treatment decisions.

In order to catalyze change, Fight CRC worked alongside more than 40 clinical researchers and physicians who are experts in the colorectal cancer field to develop the Path to a Cure report, published in December 2021. This report is a professional, multidisciplinary publication that summarizes and communicates a plan for our community to rally around: pushing forward critical areas of research, care for patients, and policy — from early detection and prevention to survivorship.

It is time to meet emerging challenges in care and to explore new ways to partner with and support the scientific and patient communities. It is time to innovate and implement more fearless approaches to fighting this disease. The urgency is real, and it is time to take risks on new ideas. Fight CRC is committed to ensuring that patients' voices are heard and that the science and treatment options continue to evolve. With the Path to a Cure report as a guide, the fight against colorectal cancer can advance with renewed energy, purpose, and hope.

Advancing Hope For Patients With Targeted Therapy, Immunotherapy, And Precision Medicine

Advancements in the treatment of colorectal cancer have undoubtedly been made in recent years, but unfortunately, they are not enough to combat this deadly disease. According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer deaths when men and women are combined in the U.S., and the number of cases has been increasing in younger adults.

Over the last decade, the following areas of progress have been made:

1. Targeted therapy: The development of targeted therapies that block specific proteins involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells has revolutionized colorectal cancer treatment. These therapies include EGFR inhibitors, such as cetuximab and panitumumab, and VEGF inhibitors, such as bevacizumab and ramucirumab.¹
2. Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy, which stimulates the immune system to attack cancer cells, has emerged as a promising treatment option for colorectal cancer. The FDA has approved several immunotherapy drugs, including pembrolizumab and nivolumab, for the treatment of certain types of colorectal cancer.²
3. Precision medicine: Advances in genomic testing have led to the development of precision medicine, which allows oncologists to tailor treatment plans to the unique genetic profile of a patient's cancer. This approach has shown promise in improving outcomes for patients with advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer.³

These advances have improved outcomes for patients and continue to drive progress in the fight against this disease. But they are not enough. While there have been significant advancements in the treatment of colorectal cancer, many of the most effective treatments only impact specific subpopulations of patients, not all patients with this disease.

Follow The Funding For Colorectal Cancer Research

Source: National Cancer Institute

We need to see federal funding for colorectal cancer research increase, rather than decrease. Colorectal cancer is a top five cancer killer, yet of the top five, it is the only one without its own Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program. That needs to change. Funding drives research, which will ultimately enhance treatment options. While screening options have improved, many patients with advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer still face limited options and a poor prognosis. Chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy are the standard treatments for colorectal cancer, but they often come with debilitating long-term side effects that can negatively impact patients' quality of life.

Targeted therapies such as EGFR inhibitors and immunotherapies have been developed, but their efficacy in colorectal cancer is limited, and many patients still succumb to the disease. And it is not without cost: These treatments can be costly and have adverse side effects that can further diminish patients' quality of life. The Path to a Cure report released by Fight Colorectal Cancer is not just another report, but rather a call to action that ignites creative thinking and motivates the development of novel strategies to prevent, diagnose, and treat colorectal cancer.

What is working with the state of clinical research is that a tremendous amount of awareness and collaborative discussion is taking place about colorectal cancer. Advocacy partners, industry, and researchers are working together, and the cure for colorectal cancer won’t come from one person. It will take creative and brilliant minds not only thinking, but acting, together as well.

What is not working is the lack of funding for colorectal cancer. Researchers need funding to develop clinical trials and treatment options. We’ve watched for 10 years as the Medicare loophole bill finally closed and became law. We don’t have time to wait. People are dying. In 2030 colorectal cancer will be the leading cause of death for people ages 20-49 years old. This is less than seven years away. We must act now for funding for screening and research. This is our obligation.

References:

1. Van Cutsem E, Cervantes A, Adam R, et al. ESMO consensus guidelines for the management of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Ann Oncol. 2016;27(8):1386-1422.
2. Overman MJ, Lonardi S, Wong KYM, et al. Durable clinical benefit with nivolumab plus ipilimumab in DNA mismatch repair-deficient/microsatellite instability-high metastatic colorectal cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2018;36(8):773-779.
3. Diaz LA Jr, Williams RT, Wu J, et al. The molecular evolution of acquired resistance to targeted EGFR blockade in colorectal cancers. Nature. 2012;486(7404):537-540.

About The Author:

Anjee Davis joined Fight Colorectal Cancer in 2011 as the first Director of Community Engagement. In 2015, she accepted the role of President. Under her leadership, Fight CRC grew more than 30% year-over-year from 2011-2019. Today, the organization continues to relentlessly pursue its mission: We fight to cure colorectal cancer and serve as relentless champions of hope for all affected by this disease through informed patient support, impactful policy change, and breakthrough research endeavors. Click here to learn more about Anjee and her work with Fight CRC.