Combined BRAF and MEK inhibition in melanoma with BRAF V600 mutations

Keith T. Flaherty, Jeffery R. Infante, Adil Daud, Rene Gonzalez, Richard F. Kefford, Jeffrey Sosman, Omid Hamid, Lynn Schuchter, Jonathan Cebon, Nageatte Ibrahim, Ragini Kudchadkar, Howard A. Burris, Gerald Falchook, Alain Algazi, Karl Lewis, Georgina V. Long, Igor Puzanov, Peter Lebowitz, Ajay Singh, Shonda LittlePeng Sun, Alicia Allred, Daniele Ouellet, Kevin B. Kim, Kiran Patel, Jeffrey Weber*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2194 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Resistance to therapy with BRAF kinase inhibitors is associated with reactivation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. To address this problem, we conducted a phase 1 and 2 trial of combined treatment with dabrafenib, a selective BRAF inhibitor, and trametinib, a selective MAPK kinase (MEK) inhibitor. METHODS: In this open-label study involving 247 patients with metastatic melanoma and BRAF V600 mutations, we evaluated the pharmacokinetic activity and safety of oral dabrafenib (75 or 150 mg twice daily) and trametinib (1, 1.5, or 2 mg daily) in 85 patients and then randomly assigned 162 patients to receive combination therapy with dabrafenib (150 mg) plus trametinib (1 or 2 mg) or dabrafenib monotherapy. The primary end points were the incidence of cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma, survival free of melanoma progression, and response. Secondary end points were overall survival and pharmacokinetic activity. RESULTS: Dose-limiting toxic effects were infrequently observed in patients receiving combination therapy with 150 mg of dabrafenib and 2 mg of trametinib (combination 150/2). Cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma was seen in 7% of patients receiving combination 150/2 and in 19% receiving monotherapy (P = 0.09), whereas pyrexia was more common in the combination 150/2 group than in the monotherapy group (71% vs. 26%). Median progression-free survival in the combination 150/2 group was 9.4 months, as compared with 5.8 months in the monotherapy group (hazard ratio for progression or death, 0.39; 95% confidence interval, 0.25 to 0.62; P<0.001). The rate of complete or partial response with combination 150/2 therapy was 76%, as compared with 54% with monotherapy (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Dabrafenib and trametinib were safely combined at full monotherapy doses. The rate of pyrexia was increased with combination therapy, whereas the rate of proliferative skin lesions was nonsignificantly reduced. Progression-free survival was significantly improved. (Funded by GlaxoSmithKline; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01072175.).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1694-1703
Number of pages10
JournalNew England Journal of Medicine
Volume367
Issue number18
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2012
Externally publishedYes

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