Study Shows Combined Therapy Helps Advanced Colorectal Cancer Patients Live Longer
A protein called BRAF plays a crucial role in cell function and cell growth. A BRAF mutation can cause the gene to function incorrectly, leading to uncontrollable cell division and the potential creation of a tumor. One of the most common forms is the BRAF V600E mutation.
“BRAF mutations are present in about 5% of metastatic colorectal cancer cases and it’s a more aggressive form of the disease,” said Tiago Biachi, MD, medical oncologist in the Gastrointestinal Oncology Department at Moffitt Cancer Center.
In an international phase 3 study presented at this year's American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, researchers analyzed the use of combined kinase inhibitor encorafenib and monoclonal antibody cetuximab with chemotherapy to treat patients with BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer.
Tiago Biachi, MD
The study involving 637 participants compared the treatment combination of encorafenib and cetuximab with and without mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy to standard of care chemotherapy with or without monoclonal antibody bevacizumab for treatment.
Research showed that patients treated with encorafenib and cetuximab with mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy had a 47% lower risk of cancer progression compared to patients treated with the standard of care chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab.
Furthermore, those treated with encorafenib and cetuximab with mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy had a 65.7% partial or complete response to the treatment.
“The patients treated with encorafenib and cetuximab with mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy demonstrated favorable outcomes, including a longer life expectancy,” Biachi said.
As a result of this study, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval of encorafenib and cetuximab with mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy for patients with BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer.
“This study highlights the importance of testing all patients with metastatic colorectal cancer using tissue (biopsy) or liquid based panels (next generation sequencing) to identify patients with this mutation so they can receive the proper treatment,” Biachi said.
