title: Dabrafenib: a new opportunity for the treatment of BRAF V600-positive melanoma.
abstract: Prior to 2011, the 1-year survival rates for patients suffering from advanced or metastatic melanoma was as low as 33%, with a median overall survival of about 9 months. Several chemotherapeutic regimens have been applied, either as monochemotherapy or as polychemotherapy, overall not resulting in an improvement of progression-free or overall survival. Novel insights into the epidemiology and biology of melanoma allowed the development of newer therapies. The discovery of mutations in BRAF, a part of the mitogen-activated protein kinase, allowed the development of two BRAF inhibitors, vemurafenib and dabrafenib, which significantly improved the outcome of metastatic melanoma treatment. This article reviews the mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety profile of dabrafenib. An in-depth knowledge of this medication will encourage clinicians to select the appropriate therapeutic strategy for each patient, as well as to prevent or adequately manage side effects, optimizing, thus, the drug's applicability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banzi
authors.affiliation: Skin Cancer Unit, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Blasio
authors.affiliation: First Department of Dermatology, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Aimilios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lallas
authors.affiliation: Skin Cancer Unit, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.affiliation: Skin Cancer Unit, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moscarella
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Surgery and Emergency, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alfano
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Unit, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Argenziano
keywords: BRAF; dabrafenib; melanoma; melanoma survival; target therapy