Alvydas Česas, Asta Poškienė, Jolanta Česienė
Abstract
Melanoma is malignant skin cancer originated from melaninproducing cells. Melanomagenesis is initially triggered byenvironmental agents including ultraviolet (UV), which inducesgenetic/epigenetic alterations in the chromosomes of melanocytes.In human melanomas, the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK (MAPK) andthe PI3K/PTEN/AKT (AKT) signaling pathways are two majorsignaling pathways and are constitutively activated through geneticalterations. In 2002 Davies et al. discovered activating BRAFmutation, witch is found in 60-70% cases of melanoma, and newera of BRAF inhibition in melanoma targeting terapy started.From 2012 in Klaipeda university hospital we treated 18pacients with BRAF mutated malignant melanoma with BRAFinhibitors and combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors. Weanalised safety and adverse events (AE) of BRAF inhibitorsand combination BRAF/ MEK inhibitors. The most commonAE was skin toxicity and mostly observed CTC grade 1-2. Nograde 4 toxicity. In patients group treated with BRAF inhibitorsmonotherapy AE‘s were observed more often then in patientstreated with BRAF/MEK inhibitors combination. Though treatmentwith BRAF and BRAF/MEK inhibitors is well tolerated and safe.
Keyword(s): melanoma, BRAF gene mutation, BRAF and MEK inhibitor, adverse event
DOI: 10.5200/sm-hs.2014.091
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