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Targeted Therapy for BRAF Mutant Brain Tumors

  • Neuro-oncology (GJ Lesser, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Opinion Statement

Molecular heterogeneity has confounded attempts to target individual pathways in brain tumors. However, gliomas with BRAF mutations have been identified as being uniquely vulnerable to targeted therapies. Such mutations are predominantly seen in brain tumors of the adolescent and young adult population. Given that accurate and timely identification of such mutations is essential for offering appropriate treatment, treatment centers should offer both immunohistochemical and sequencing methods for detection of these mutations to guide treatment. Additional studies of these tumors at recurrence would also allow identification of breakthrough resistance mechanisms that may also be targetable for treatment. Due to the relative rarity of these tumors, multicenter collaborative studies will be essential in achieving long term control of these tumors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Charleston Area Medical Center, Charleston, WV, USA

    Appaji Rayi

  2. Division of Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Iyad Alnahhas MD

  3. Division of Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA

    Shirley Ong MD & Pierre Giglio MD

  4. Department of Neuro-Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Unit 431, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Vinay K. Puduvalli MD

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Correspondence to Vinay K. Puduvalli MD.

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Appaji Rayi, Iyad Alnahhas, Shirley Ong and Vinay K. Puduvalli declare that they have no conflict of interest. Pierre Giglio owns stock in Vanguard S&P 500 ETF.

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Rayi, A., Alnahhas, I., Ong, S. et al. Targeted Therapy for BRAF Mutant Brain Tumors. Curr. Treat. Options in Oncol. 22, 105 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11864-021-00901-9

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