Combined BRAF and MEK inhibition with dabrafenib and trametinib in BRAF V600-Mutant colorectal cancer

Ryan B. Corcoran, Chloe E. Atreya, Gerald S. Falchook, Eunice L. Kwak, David P. Ryan, Johanna C. Bendell, Omid Hamid, Wells A. Messersmith, Adil Daud, Razelle Kurzrock, Mariaelena Pierobon, Peng Sun, Elizabeth Cunningham, Shonda Little, Keith Orford, Monica Motwani, Yuchen Bai, Kiran Patel, Alan P. Venook, Scott Kopetz

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413 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate dabrafenib, a selective BRAF inhibitor, combined with trametinib, a selective MEK inhibitor, in patients with BRAF V600-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Patients and Methods A total of 43 patients with BRAF V600-mutant mCRC were treated with dabrafenib (150 mg twice daily) plus trametinib (2 mg daily), 17 of whom were enrolled onto a pharmacodynamic cohort undergoing mandatory biopsies before and during treatment. Archival tissues were analyzed for microsatellite instability, PTEN status, and 487-gene sequencing. Patient-derived xenografts were established from core biopsy samples. Results Of 43 patients, five (12%) achieved a partial response or better, including one (2%) complete response, with duration of response > 36 months; 24 patients (56%) achieved stable disease as best confirmed response. Ten patients (23%) remained in the study > 6 months. All nine evaluable during-treatment biopsies had reduced levels of phosphorylated ERK relative to pretreatment biopsies (average decrease ± standard deviation, 47% ± 24%). Mutational analysis revealed that the patient achieving a complete response and two of three evaluable patients achieving a partial response had PIK3CA mutations. Neither PTEN loss nor microsatellite instability correlated with efficacy. Responses to dabrafenib plus trametinib were comparable in patient-derived xenograft- bearing mice and the biopsied lesions from each corresponding patient. Conclusion The combination of dabrafenib plus trametinib has activity in a subset of patients with BRAF V600-mutant mCRC. Mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling was inhibited in all patients evaluated, but to a lesser degree than observed in BRAF-mutant melanoma with dabrafenib alone. PIK3CA mutations were identified in responding patients and thus do not preclude response to this regimen. Additional studies targeting the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in this disease are warranted.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4023-4031
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology
Volume33
Issue number34
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

MD Anderson CCSG core facilities

  • Research Animal Support Facility

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