What are the benefits of combined dabrafenib and trametinib on patient-reported outcomes?

This study investigated the effect of dabrafenib (Tafinlar and trametinib (Mekinist) on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in melanoma. They found that this treatment combination did not effect PROs.

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. The prognosis for melanoma has improved in recent years. Targeted therapies have improved survival in advanced melanoma. One targeted therapy is the combination of dabrafenib and trametinib. They are drugs that block certain proteins involved in cancer cell growth. This stops cancer cells from growing. 

Studies have shown that the combination of these 2 drugs improves survival in patients with advanced melanoma. Treatment can also continue to reduce the risk of melanoma recurrence. However, cancer treatments often have many side effects. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are important during and after treatment. PROs measure important factors such as quality of life. It is unclear if treatment with dabrafenib/trametinib in patients with melanoma has any impact on PROs.

This study included 870 patients with melanoma. Patients were randomly assigned to treatment with dabrafenib/trametinib combination or placebo. Treatment began after surgery to remove the tumor. These patients had abnormal BRAF gene. These patients also had a high risk of recurrence. The authors analysed PROs in both groups. Patients were asked about the impact of side effects as a result of treatment. The quality of life was assessed through questionnaires. Patients were followed up for an average of 33-34 months.

Quality of life scores were similar in both groups during the 12 months of treatment. Scores were similar in both groups up to 48 months. In patients that had a melanoma recurrence, quality of life scores were reduced in both groups. Anxiety and depression scores were higher in both groups after recurrence.

The authors concluded that dabrafenib/trametinib treatment did not effect PROs in patients treated for melanoma.

Measuring quality of life can be difficult. The time of assessment can produce different results. More investigation is needed.