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Long-term tolerability of the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib in patients with metastatic melanoma: current study data and real-life observations

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Abstract

Vemurafenib is a targeted therapy against metastatic melanoma. It specifically inhibits the V600 mutated BRAF kinase in the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Only limited data are available on long-term tolerability and efficacy of this drug. Here, we report and discuss six patients from our own clinical practice who were treated with vemurafenib for 16–27 months. Overall, these long-term responders tolerated vemurafenib well during the prolonged period of therapy. Most of the side-effects occurred during the first 6 months of treatment and were transient. The most common persistent side-effect was phototoxicity, which was manageable by precautionary measures or with dose reduction. Interestingly, even permanent dose reductions of 50 % of the standard dose did not abrogate long lasting remissions but improved tolerability, which is a prerequisite of long-term therapy. In addition to our own clinical experience, this article reviews current study results regarding the tolerability and efficacy of long-term vemurafenib therapy.

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Acknowledgments

Support for third-party writing assistance for this manuscript was provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche.

Conflict of interest

Cathrin Balmelli, Michael Mark, Christian Spirig, Vito Spataro, Stefanie Pederiva, Christian Monnerat, and Alfred Zippelius have no conflict of interest. Andreas Wicki has received consultant and speaker fees from Roche.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland

    Cathrin Balmelli MD

  2. Department of Oncology/Hematology, Kantonsspital Graubünden, Loestrasse 170, 7000, Chur, Switzerland

    Michael Mark MD

  3. OnkoZentrum Luzern, Klinik St. Anna, St. Anna-Strasse 32, 6006, Luzern, Switzerland

    Christian Spirig MD

  4. Oncology Clinic, Viale Stazione 23, 6500, Bellinzona, Switzerland

    Vito Spataro MD

  5. Institute for Onkology/Hematology, Kantonsspital Baden, Im Ergel 1, 5404, Baden, Switzerland

    Stefanie Pederiva MD

  6. Oncology, Hôpital du Jura, Faubourg des Capucins 30, 2800, Delémont, Switzerland

    Christian Monnerat MD

  7. Department of Oncology and Dept. of Biomedicine, University and University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland

    Alfred Zippelius

  8. Department of Medical Oncology and Dept. of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland

    Andreas Wicki MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Cathrin Balmelli MD
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  2. Michael Mark MD
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  3. Christian Spirig MD
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  5. Stefanie Pederiva MD
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  6. Christian Monnerat MD
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  7. Alfred Zippelius
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  8. Andreas Wicki MD, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andreas Wicki MD, PhD.

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Balmelli, C., Mark, M., Spirig, C. et al. Long-term tolerability of the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib in patients with metastatic melanoma: current study data and real-life observations. memo 7, 181–186 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12254-014-0156-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12254-014-0156-6

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