title: Leukocyte count restoration under dabrafenib treatment in a melanoma patient with vemurafenib-induced leukopenia: case report.
abstract: Recent advances in melanoma therapy have influenced the management of metastatic patients. Inhibitors of the BRAF/MEK/ERK signaling cascade have been proven highly effective in the metastatic disease although displaying different side effects. Here, we report a patient with BRAF V600E-mutated stage IV melanoma who developed a severe leukopenia upon targeted therapy with the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib. Interestingly, the immediate therapeutic switch to a different BRAF inhibitor 'dabrafenib? had no negative influence on the leukocyte count. This case supports recent studies, which showed a differential influence of different BRAF inhibitors on patients' leukocytes despite similar clinical efficacy in melanoma.
authors.affiliation: From the Skin Cancer Unit (EO, VU, CG, JU), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg; and Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology (EO, BZ, VU, CG, JU), University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Orouji
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ziegler
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Umansky
authors.forename: Christoffer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gebhardt
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Utikal
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007211:Indoles / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D010091:Oximes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077484:Vemurafenib
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007093:Imidazoles; D007211:Indoles; D010091:Oximes; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000077484:Vemurafenib; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; C561627:dabrafenib