Effect of Adjuvant Immunochemotherapy with PSK for Colon Cancer Patients Showing Oncogenic β-Catenin Activation in Primary Tumor

Authors: K. Yamashita, H. Nakazato, K. Ito, A. Ougolkov, Y. Takahashi, M. Mai, and T. Minamoto

Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of a randomized controlled trial (CIP Study)

Participants: 202 colon cancer patients

Trial Length: The trial length is not explicitly stated in this abstract, but it references 5-year survival rates.

Intervention:

• Immunochemotherapy group: 5-FU (200mg/day orally) + PSK (3000mg/day orally) after curative resection
• Chemotherapy group: 5-FU (200mg/day orally) after curative resection

Primary Outcomes: 5-year cancer death-specific survival (5yCDS) and overall survival (5yOAS) ratesSummary: The study investigated the impact of adjuvant immunochemotherapy with PSK on colon cancer patients with β-catenin activation in their tumors. The researchers identified two patterns of β-catenin activation: diffuse nuclear accumulation (NAd) and selective nuclear accumulation at the tumor invasion front (NAinv). NAinv was associated with a worse prognosis, regardless of treatment. In patients with NAd, immunochemotherapy significantly improved 5yCDS and 5yOAS compared to chemotherapy alone. Multivariate analysis confirmed that Dukes’ tumor stage and PSK administration were independent prognostic factors. The study suggests that PSK may benefit colon cancer patients with the NAd pattern of β-catenin activation.