Dr. Cercek on Targeted Strategies in BRAF-Mutant mCRC

Andrea Cercek, MD, medical oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses targeted strategies in BRAF-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Many therapeutic advances have been made for patients with BRAF-mutant tumors, particularly those with BRAF V600E—mutant mCRC which accounts for approximately 10% of all mCRC cases, says Cercek. The mutation is associated with a worse prognosis and confers lack of benefit to cytotoxic chemotherapy. Data from the phase III BEACON CRC study showed a significant improvement in overall survival with the 3-drug combination of encorafenib (Braftovi), binimetinib (Mektovi), and cetuximab (Erbitux) versus encorafenib/cetuximab and investigator’s choice of chemotherapy in these patients. However, although the triplet performed statistically better than the control, it also resulted in more toxicity, says Cercek.

In 2018, the FDA granted a breakthrough therapy designation to the triplet for the treatment of patients with BRAF V600E—mutant mCRC who have progressed on ≤2 prior lines of therapy.