Neoadjuvant therapy for BRAF mutated melanoma: new strategies with targeted therapies
Keywords:
Cutaneous melanomas, BRAF-inhibitors, МЕK-inhibitors, neoadjuvant therapy, adjuvant therapy, relapse-free survival [RFS], overall survival [OS]Abstract
Cutaneous melanomas (CMs) account for only a small proportion of skin cancers, however these are responsible for most skin cancer deaths. To date, two largely mutually exclusive groups of cutaneous melanomas can be categorised: those harbouring an activating BRAF mutation (mostly BRAF V600E), which represent 40–50% of all melanoma patients, and those harbouring other mutations than BRAF. BRAF and МЕК inhibitors are drugs that can be used to treat melanoma that has spread or can’t be removed completely. Neoadjuvant (preoperative) therapy combines the potential benefits of standard postoperative adjuvant therapy (i.e., improved relapse-free survival [RFS] and possibly overall survival [OS] as well) with the ability to make surgery easier when tumors respond and the opportunity to assess the therapeutic efficacy of the treatment based on pathologic assessment of the resected tumor.
