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Doublet BRAF/MEK inhibition versus single-agent BRAF inhibition in the management of BRAF-mutant advanced melanoma, biological rationale and meta-analysis of published data

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Abstract

Back ground

We executed a comparative systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and toxicity of doublet BRAF/MEK inhibition versus single-agent BRAF inhibitor in the management of BRAF-mutant advanced melanoma.

Methods

Eligible studies included prospective studies evaluating doublet regimens versus BRAF-inhibitor monotherapy for the management of BRAF-mutant advanced melanoma.

Results

Our search strategy yielded 200 potentially relevant citations from searched databases. After preclusion of ineligible studies, four studies were included in the final analysis. Efficacy analyses demonstrate that BRAF/MEK inhibition strategy is associated with a significant improvement in ORR [OR 1.35; 95 % CI (1.16, 1.58); P = 0.0002], PFS [HR 0.56; 95 % CI (0.49, 0.64); P < 0.00001] and OS [HR 0.70; 95 % CI (0.58, 0.84); P = 0.0001]. Moreover, this combination is associated with a higher RR for diarrhea [1.30; 95 % CI (1.30, 1.49); P = 0.0002], decreased ejection fraction [4.63; 95 % CI (2.56, 8.37); P = <0.00001], acneiform dermatitis [1.61; 95 % CI (1.03, 2.53); P = 0.04] and pyrexia [1.98; 95 % CI (1.72, 2.27); P < 0.00001].

Conclusions

Our meta-analysis has demonstrated that combination of MEK/BRAF inhibitors is associated with higher ORR, PFS and OS. However, this comes at the expense of a higher risk of selected toxicities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Oncology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Lotfy Elsayed street, Cairo, 113331, Egypt

    O. Abdel-Rahman & H. ElHalawani

  2. Clinical Oncology Department, Nasser Institute, Cairo, Egypt

    H. Ahmed

Authors
  1. O. Abdel-Rahman
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  2. H. ElHalawani
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  3. H. Ahmed
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to O. Abdel-Rahman.

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This study has not funded by any organizational body.

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All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants performed by any of the authors.

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Abdel-Rahman, O., ElHalawani, H. & Ahmed, H. Doublet BRAF/MEK inhibition versus single-agent BRAF inhibition in the management of BRAF-mutant advanced melanoma, biological rationale and meta-analysis of published data. Clin Transl Oncol 18, 848–858 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-015-1438-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-015-1438-0

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