Optimal Use of BRAF Targeting Therapy in the Immunotherapy Era.
The therapeutic landscape for metastatic melanoma has been revolutionized in recent years. This review will discuss existing evidence for therapeutic approaches for BRAF-mutated metastatic melanoma.



Clinical trials involving combined BRAF/MEK inhibition with either vemurafenib plus cobimetinib or dabrafenib plus trametinib have shown improved overall survival compared to monotherapy with BRAF inhibitors alone. In a subset of patients with good prognostic factors, long-term clinical benefit has been noted. Simultaneously, developments in immunotherapy have suggested long-lasting survival for some patients. In advanced BRAF-mutated melanoma, both BRAF/MEK inhibition and immunotherapy agents show improved overall survival and, in a small population of patients, prolonged and long-term benefit as compared to standard chemotherapy. Trials are currently underway evaluating sequencing of these therapies and the safety of targeted therapy plus immunotherapy combinations.
University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, 5841 S. Maryland Ave. MC2115, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
Kevin
K
Wood
University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, 5841 S. Maryland Ave. MC2115, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA. jluke@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu.
Jason J
JJ
Luke
D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics
D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
BRAF; Dabrafenib; Immunotherapy; MEK; Melanoma; Metastatic; Vemurafenib