Combining BRAF and MEK Inhibitors to Treat Melanoma

Ragini Kudchadkar, MD, assistant professor, medical oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, discusses the benefits of combining BRAF and MEK inhibitors when treating melanoma.

Clinical Pearls

• Early data has shown that the combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors improve outcomes compared with single agents in patients with melanoma
• By combining the agents, the mechanism of resistance from the cancer cell is blocked. This allows patients to stay on therapy longer and decreases skin toxicities that are seen in single agent use
• The combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors will likely become the next standard of care