Dr. Davies on the Utility of Retreatment With BRAF/MEK Inhibitors in BRAF-Mutant Melanoma

Michael A. Davies, MD, PhD, Anne and John Mendelsohn Chair in Cancer Research, professor and chair, Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, co-leader, Melanoma Moon Shot Program, Department of Moon Shots Program, director of research activities, Department of Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the utility of retreatment with combination BRAF/MEK inhibitors in BRAF-mutant melanoma.

Typically, patients who progress on a BRAF/MEK inhibitor combination will not respond to another BRAF/MEK inhibitor regimen if it is given consecutively, says Davies. However, patients who require a significant dose reduction on 1 regimen may derive efficacy from another if they are able to tolerate the second combination at a higher dose, Davies explains.

Additionally, resistance to BRAF/MEK inhibitors is not necessarily permanent in patients with BRAF-mutant melanoma, Davies adds. Patients who progress on a BRAF/MEK combination and subsequently receive another treatment, such as immunotherapy for 3 months, may be rechallenged with another BRAF/MEK combination upon progression on immunotherapy, explains Davies. Data have reported good disease control rates with this approach, Davies concludes.