Colorectal cancer represents the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The therapeutic field of immuno-oncology has rapidly gained momentum, with strikingly promising results observed in clinical practice. Increasing emphasis has been placed on the role of the immune response in tumorigenesis, therapy and predicting prognosis. Enhanced understanding of the dynamic and complex tumour-immune microenvironment has enabled the development of molecularly directed, individualised treatment. Analysis of intra-tumoural lymphocyte infiltration and the dichotomisation of colorectal cancer into microsatellite stable and unstable disease has important therapeutic and prognostic implications, with potential to capitalise further on this data. This review discusses the latest evidence surrounding the tumour biology and immune landscape of colorectal cancer, novel immunotherapies and the interaction of the immune system with each apex of the tripartite of cancer management (oncotherapeutics, radiotherapy and surgery). By utilising the synergy of chemotherapeutic agents and immunotherapies, and identifying prognostic and predictive immunological biomarkers, we may enter an era of unprecedented disease control, survivorship and cure rates.

结直肠癌是全球癌症相关死亡的第二大原因。免疫肿瘤学的治疗领域发展势头迅猛，在临床实践中取得了令人瞩目的有希望的结果。人们越来越重视免疫反应在肿瘤发生、治疗和预测预后中的作用。对动态和复杂的肿瘤免疫微环境的深入了解使得分子定向、个体化治疗的发展成为可能。分析肿瘤内淋巴细胞浸润和将结直肠癌分为微卫星稳定和不稳定疾病具有重要的治疗和预后意义，并有可能进一步利用这些数据。这篇综述讨论了围绕结直肠癌的肿瘤生物学和免疫景观、新型免疫疗法以及免疫系统与癌症管理三方（肿瘤治疗、放疗和手术）的每个顶点的相互作用的最新证据。通过利用化学治疗剂和免疫疗法的协同作用，并确定预后和预测性免疫生物标志物，我们可能会进入一个疾病控制、存活率和治愈率前所未有的时代。