Clinical outcome of concomitant vs interrupted BRAF inhibitor therapy during radiotherapy in melanoma patients

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Markus Hecht - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Friedegund Meier - , Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Lisa Zimmer - , University of Duisburg-Essen (Author)
  • Bülent Polat - , University of Würzburg (Author)
  • Carmen Loquai - , Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Author)
  • Carsten Weishaupt - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Andrea Forschner - , University Hospital Tübingen (Author)
  • Ralf Gutzmer - , Hannover Medical School (MHH) (Author)
  • Jochen S. Utikal - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Simone M. Goldinger - , University of Zurich (Author)
  • Michael Geier - , Ordensklinikum Linz (Author)
  • Jessica C. Hassel - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Panagiotis Balermpas - , University Hospital Frankfurt (Author)
  • Felix Kiecker - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Ricarda Rauschenberg - , Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Ursula Dietrich - , University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Patrick Clemens - , Landeskrankenhaus Feldkirch (Author)
  • Carola Berking - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Gerhard Grabenbauer - , REGIOMED Klinikum Coburg (Author)
  • Dirk Schadendorf - , University of Duisburg-Essen (Author)
  • Stephan Grabbe - , Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Author)
  • Gerold Schuler - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Rainer Fietkau - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Luitpold V. Distel - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Lucie Heinzerling - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)

Abstract

Background: Concomitant radiation with BRAF inhibitor (BRAFi) therapy may increase radiation-induced side effects but also potentially improve tumour control in melanoma patients. Methods: A total of 155 patients with BRAF-mutated melanoma from 17 European skin cancer centres were retrospectively analysed. Out of these, 87 patients received concomitant radiotherapy and BRAFi (59 vemurafenib, 28 dabrafenib), while in 68 patients BRAFi therapy was interrupted during radiation (51 vemurafenib, 17 dabrafenib). Overall survival was calculated from the first radiation (OSRT) and from start of BRAFi therapy (OSBRAFi). Results: The median duration of BRAFi treatment interruption prior to radiotherapy was 4 days and lasted for 17 days. Median OSRT and OSBRAFi in the entire cohort were 9.8 and 12.6 months in the interrupted group and 7.3 and 11.5 months in the concomitant group (P=0.075/P=0.217), respectively. Interrupted vemurafenib treatment with a median OSRT and OSBRAFi of 10.1 and 13.1 months, respectively, was superior to concomitant vemurafenib treatment with a median OSRT and OSBRAFi of 6.6 and 10.9 months (P=0.004/P=0.067). Interrupted dabrafenib treatment with a median OSRT and OSBRAFi of 7.7 and 9.8 months, respectively, did not differ from concomitant dabrafenib treatment with a median OSRT and OSBRAFi of 9.9 and 11.6 months (P=0.132/P=0.404). Median local control of the irradiated area did not differ in the interrupted and concomitant BRAFi treatment groups (P=0.619). Skin toxicity of grade Z2 (CTCAE) was significantly increased in patients with concomitant vemurafenib compared to the group with treatment interruption (P=0.002). Conclusions: Interruption of vemurafenib treatment during radiation was associated with better survival and less toxicity compared to concomitant treatment. Due to lower number of patients, the relevance of treatment interruption in dabrafenib treated patients should be further investigated. The results of this analysis indicate that treatment with the BRAFi vemurafenib should be interrupted during radiotherapy. Prospective studies are desperately needed.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)785-792
Number of pages8
JournalBritish journal of cancer
Volume118
Issue number6
Publication statusPublished - 20 Mar 2018
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 29438368
ORCID /0009-0001-4054-4024/work/155291688
ORCID /0000-0003-4340-9706/work/155292314

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • BRAF, Dabrafenib, Radiation, Radiotherapy, Vemurafenib