Sequential Immunotherapy, Targeted Therapy Linked to Cutaneous Adverse Events in Advanced Melanoma

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Combination therapy with vemurafenib plus cobimetinib after immunotherapy may cause cutaneous adverse events (CAEs) in patients with BRAF-mutant metastatic melanoma. These findings are based on the results of a retrospective chart review of patients with BRAF-mutant metastatic melanoma receiving sequential treatment with immunotherapy followed by targeted therapy or vice versa. This study was published in the Journal of Immunotherapy of Cancer.

With the realization that 40% to 50% of patients with cutaneous melanoma have disease characterized by pathogenic BRAF mutations, targeted therapy approaches, such as the combination of a BRAF inhibitor (eg, vemurafenib) with a MEK inhibitor (eg, cobimetinib) are being increasingly employed. In addition, immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy is another approach shown to be effective in some patients with this disease.

Nevertheless, there is scant clinical evidence for the safety and efficacy of sequential administration of immunotherapy and targeted therapy or for combining these 2 therapeutic approaches in patients with advanced melanoma.