Dabrafenib is the second agent in the therapeutic class of selective BRAF inhibitors, and has proven efficacy in a phase III trial (BREAK-3) with impressive improvements in progression-free survival and response rates. Differences in the safety profile exist compared with vemurafenib, but the future lies in combinatorial strategies and improved patient selection.
Key Points
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Inhibition of mutated BRAF in metastatic melanoma is an effective strategy establishing the class of selective BRAF inhibitors with vemurafenib and dabrafenib
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Responses remain relatively short lived and development of secondary resistance curtails benefit
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BRAF inhibitors will form the backbone of combination strategies with other targeted agents, immunotherapy, and possibly chemotherapy
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Tawbi, H., Kirkwood, J. BREAKing a path for progress—dabrafenib confirms class effect. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 9, 496–497 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2012.138
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2012.138
