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Posted by on May 1, 2014 in Melanoma | 1 comment

In a nutshell

This study examined the patterns of disease response and progression among patients with metastatic melanoma treated with a combination of MAPK inhibitors.

Some background

BRAF is an important gene regulating cell division and growth through a process mediated by an enzyme known as mitogen-activated protein kinase or MAPK. It is estimated that about 50% of melanomas arise due to mutations in the BRAF gene. Several biological therapies have been developed in recent years for the treatment of metastatic (wide spread) melanoma. Such therapies, such as dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and trametinib (Mekinist), target the BRAF-MAPK pathway to suppress cancer growth and spread. Although several trials have previously demonstrated the effectiveness of these agents, patient responses vary widely and complete response to treatment is rare.

Methods & findings

This study examined the patterns of disease response and progression among 24 metastatic melanoma patients treated with a combination of dabrafenib and trametinib.

The degree of treatment response and the time until best response was achieved varied widely among patients. 17% (4 patients) of treated patients showed complete response to treatment. 75% (18 patients) of the treated patients showed only a partial response to treatment, and eventually melanoma progression to some extent. Average progression free survival (defined as the period of time without cancer progression) among these patients was 8.2 months. The remaining two patients achieved stable disease state (no change in the extent of the disease). However, among all patients, 53% of the metastatic lesions exhibited complete response to treatment.

The bottom line

This analysis concluded that only a small percentage of treated metastatic melanoma patients achieve complete response to treatment with targeted BRAF-MAPK melanoma therapies. However, the majority of metastatic lesions seem to exhibit complete response to targeted therapies.

The fine print

This study included only a very small number of participants. Larger studies are needed to determine the predictors of targeted therapy efficiency.

Published By :

PLOS ONE

Date :

Jan 06, 2014

Original Title :

Inter- and intra-patient heterogeneity of response and progression to targeted therapy in metastatic melanoma.

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