BRAF and NRAS mutations in melanoma: potential relationships to clinical response to HSP90 inhibitors.
Oncogenic BRAF and NRAS mutations are frequent in malignant melanoma. BRAF that is activated by the common V600E and other mutations, as well as by upstream NRAS mutations, has been shown to require the molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) for stabilization and is depleted by the HSP90 inhibitor 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG)]. Here, we explore the possible relationship between tumor BRAF and NRAS mutations and clinical response to 17-AAG in six patients with metastatic malignant melanoma who received pharmacologically active doses of 17-AAG as part of a phase I clinical trial. One patient with disease stabilization for 49 months had a (G13D)NRAS mutation and (WT)BRAF. A second patient who had stable disease for 15 months had a (V600E)BRAF mutation and (WT)NRAS. These preliminary results suggest that BRAF and NRAS mutation status should be determined in prospective phase II studies of HSP90 inhibitors in melanoma.
Banerji
Udai
U
Cancer Research UK Centre for Cancer Therapeutics, Haddow Laboratories, The Institute of Cancer Research, 15 Cotswold Road, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5NG, United Kingdom.
Affolter
Annette
A
Judson
Ian
I
Marais
Richard
R
Workman
Paul
P
D016227:Benzoquinones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics*; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D047029:Lactams, Macrocyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D011379:Prognosis; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016227:Benzoquinones; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins; D047029:Lactams, Macrocyclic; C112765:tanespimycin; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf