Dr. Kopetz Discusses the Treatment of BRAF-Mutant CRC

Scott Kopetz, MD, PhD, FACP, associate professor, Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the treatment of patients with BRAF-mutant colorectal cancer (CRC).

About 5% of patients with metastatic CRC harbor a BRAF mutation. Overall, the subgroup has a poor prognosis, as these tumors are very aggressive and the therapies available are not effective, Kopetz says. Most patients who harbor a BRAF mutation have a V600E alteration.

Over the last year, there was a recent addition to the standard-of-care regimen for these patients as a result of the findings from the SWOG 1406 trial. This randomized study investigated irinotecan and cetuximab (Erbitux) with or without vemurafenib (Zelboraf) in BRAF-mutant metastatic CRC. Results showed an improvement in progression-free survival, and had improved disease control rates, Kopetz says. This regimen is now considered a standard therapy for second- and third-line treatment.