Dr. Ascierto on Triplet Therapy in BRAF+ Melanoma

Paolo A. Ascierto, MD, director of the Unit of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapy at the National Tumor Institute Fondazione G. Pascale in Naples, discusses investigational triplet therapies in patients with BRAF-positive melanoma.

Triplet regimens are of interest in patients with BRAF-positive melanoma, explains Ascierto. There are many ongoing studies that are examining triplet therapies, including a phase I trial with dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and trametinib (Mekinist) in combination with durvalumab (Imfinzi).

There are also ongoing phase II/III trials, says Ascierto, including the KEYNOTE-022 trial, which is looking at dabrafenib and trametinib in combination with pembrolizumab (Keytruda). These data will likely be presented at the 2018 ESMO Congress.

Additionally, the combination of vemurafenib (Zelboraf) and cobimetinib (Cotellic) with atezolizumab (Tecentriq) is being explored. These trials will seek to answer whether the addition of an anti—PD-1 therapy can induce a long-term benefit in these patients, says Ascierto.