UCLA Doubles Survival for Advanced Colon Cancer Patients

Researchers at UCLA are turning the tide against colorectal cancer, the leading cancer killer of Americans under 50, with innovations that both prevent disease and dramatically extend lives.

The most striking breakthrough came from a clinical trial led by Dr. J. Randolph Hecht, where a new drug combination doubled the number of patients with advanced colorectal cancer who survived to two years. The treatment pairs zanzalintinib, which helps break down the tumor's defensive shields, with atezolizumab, an immunotherapy that unleashes the body's cancer-fighting cells.

Patients receiving this combination lived significantly longer than those on standard therapy, with about 20% lower risk of death. Even more remarkable, the approach worked in patients whose tumors are microsatellite stable, a group that historically hasn't responded to immunotherapy at all.

But UCLA scientists aren't waiting for cancer to develop. Dr. Folasade May's team discovered a simple solution to boost screening rates among newly eligible adults ages 45 to 49, where fewer than one in four get tested. When researchers mailed free stool test kits directly to people's homes without requiring them to request one first, screening rates jumped to 26%, compared to just 14 to 17% when patients had to opt in.

The strategy matters because colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. Screening catches and removes precancerous polyps before they ever turn dangerous.

Another UCLA team led by Dr. Zev Wainberg tested an experimental vaccine called ELI-002 2P in patients with KRAS-driven cancers, a genetic mutation present in many colorectal tumors. The results stunned researchers: 84% of patients developed powerful, lasting immune responses with specialized T cells that hunt cancer.

Patients who mounted the strongest immune responses stayed cancer-free far longer, with many still in remission when others had relapsed. Unlike personalized cancer vaccines that require custom manufacturing for each patient, this off-the-shelf version targets common mutations and can be produced at scale.

The vaccine even triggered broader immune activity, training the body to recognize additional cancer mutations beyond the original target. Some patients saw their tumor biomarkers completely disappear.

Why This Inspires

These advances show how attacking cancer from multiple angles creates real hope. While one team extends lives for those with advanced disease, others work to catch cancer early or prevent it entirely through vaccines.

The rising toll of colorectal cancer in young adults has alarmed doctors for two decades, even as overall cancer deaths decline. Now, for the first time, researchers have tools that address every stage: prevention through accessible screening, early detection through mailed test kits, and revolutionary treatments for advanced disease.

Each breakthrough builds on the others, creating a comprehensive defense against a disease that was once considered inevitable for many families but is increasingly becoming both preventable and beatable.