Jeffrey Weber, MD, PhD: The Impact of Moderate Level of Disease Burden on Response to Targeted Therapy

How might this patient’s moderate level of disease burden impact response to targeted therapy?

There’s a clear association, as seen in a recent study that was published in theJournal of Clinical Oncology

CASE: Metastatic Melanoma

Charles, a 62-year-old Caucasian landscaper, presented to his primary care physician with fatigue, dyspnea upon exertion, and a nonproductive cough that has lasted for 6 to 8 weeks. .

• Following a medical examination, a suspicious mole was biopsied, which resulted in a diagnosis of melanoma.
• Genetic testing revealed aBRAFV600K mutation
• PET/CT scan shows metastases to the lung and a soft tissue nodule in the liver (1.4 cm x 1.1 cm)
• LDH levels and liver function test results were normal
• The patient’s ECOG performance status was 1

Treatment was initiated with the combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors.