Dr. Rotkowitz on BRAF/MEK Combination Side Effects

Michael Rotkowitz, MD, medical oncologist, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Eastern Regional Medical Center, discusses the side effects associated with the combination of dabrafenib and trametinib, two investigational agents for advanced melanoma.

The current standard of care for advanced melanoma with a BRAF mutation is the targeted agent vemurafenib. Rotkowitz explains that most patients taking this agent will experience some form of side effect. However, he remains optimistic that the investigational combination of the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib and the MEK inhibitor trametinib will avoid many of these side effects.

Data from the phase I/II study investigating the combination suggests that the occurrence of side effects such as squamous cell carcinoma and other benign tumors was less common than in vemurafenib alone, while demonstrating a similar survival benefit.

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