Dr. Sullivan Discusses Role of Dabrafenib Plus Trametinib in Melanoma

Source: OncLive, December 2019

Ryan J. Sullivan, MD, associate director of Melanoma at the Massachusetts General Hospital, discusses the significance of the BRAF/MEK combination dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and trametinib (Mekinist), which was the first BRAF/MEK inhibitor regimen to be approved by the FDA for the treatment of patients with BRAF V600E–positive stage III melanoma following complete resection.

About 70% of patients that receive this combination have major responses, says Sullivan. Based on pooled data from the phase III COMBI-d and COMBI-v trials, dabrafenib plus trametinib demonstrated a 5-year survival in the 30% range and a 5-year progression-free survival around 20%.