Dabrafenib + Trametinib Before and After Surgery for Melanoma

Overseen By Rodabe Amaria, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 2

Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Must not be taking: Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, Biologics, others

Disqualifiers: Uncontrolled diabetes, Hypertension, Heart failure, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Prior Safety Data This treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

Breakthrough Therapy This drug has been fast-tracked for approval by the FDA given its high promise

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

58 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This is a single arm phase II trial focused on how dabrafenib and trametinib before and after surgery works in treating patients with stage IIIB-C melanoma that has a specific mutation in the BRAF gene. Dabrafenib and trametinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Giving dabrafenib and trametinib before surgery may make the tumor smaller and reduce the amount of normal tissue that needs to be removed. Giving dabrafenib and trametinib after surgery may kill any remaining tumor cells.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial protocol does not specify if you must stop taking your current medications, but it mentions that you cannot use certain prohibited medications during the study. It's best to discuss your current medications with the trial team to see if any are prohibited.

What data supports the effectiveness of the drug Dabrafenib + Trametinib for melanoma?

Research shows that the combination of dabrafenib and trametinib is more effective and safer than using a BRAF inhibitor alone for treating metastatic melanoma. It has been shown to improve survival in patients with advanced melanoma with specific BRAF mutations. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the combination of Dabrafenib and Trametinib generally safe for humans?

The combination of Dabrafenib and Trametinib is generally considered safe for humans, with most side effects being mild to moderate and manageable. However, some serious side effects can occur, such as heart problems, blood clots, and lung issues, so patients should be monitored closely. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

How is the drug combination of Dabrafenib and Trametinib unique for treating melanoma?

The combination of Dabrafenib and Trametinib is unique because it targets the MAPK pathway, specifically inhibiting mutant BRAF and MEK proteins, which helps improve survival in patients with BRAF-mutant melanoma. This combination is used both before and after surgery to enhance treatment outcomes, offering a novel approach compared to traditional chemotherapy. ^{1 5 11 12 13}

Research Team

Rodabe N. Amaria

Principal Investigator

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for patients with stage IIIB-C melanoma that can be removed by surgery and have a BRAF V600 mutation. Participants must be fit for surgery, not on current cancer treatments, able to consent, and meet specific health criteria including blood counts. Women of childbearing potential and men must agree to use contraception.

Inclusion Criteria

The surgical team has approved me as fit for surgery.

My melanoma has a BRAF mutation (V600E or V600K).

I am fully active or can carry out light work.

Exclusion Criteria

I do not have stomach or intestine problems that affect how drugs work in my body.

Pregnant or lactating female

I have not taken any cancer treatment or experimental drugs in the last 28 days.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Neoadjuvant Treatment

Participants receive dabrafenib and trametinib orally for 8 weeks before surgery

8 weeks

Regular visits for monitoring and assessment

Surgery

Participants undergo surgery to remove the tumor

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Adjuvant Treatment

Participants receive dabrafenib and trametinib orally for 44 weeks after surgery

44 weeks

Regular visits for monitoring and assessment

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

1 year

Every 3 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Dabrafenib
• Therapeutic Conventional Surgery
• Trametinib

Trial Overview The study tests the effects of dabrafenib and trametinib before and after surgery in shrinking tumors and eliminating remaining cancer cells. It's a phase II trial where all participants receive both drugs; there are no comparison groups.

Participant Groups

Group I: Treatment (dabrafenib, trametinib, surgery) Experimental Treatment 4 Interventions

Patients receive dabrafenib PO BID and trametinib PO QD for 8 weeks. After completion of 8 weeks of dabrafenib and trametinib, patients undergo surgery. Approximately 1 week after surgery, patients receive dabrafenib PO BID and trametinib PO QD for 44 additional weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Dabrafenib is already approved in European Union, United States, Canada, Japan for the following indications:

Approved in European Union as Tafinlar for:

• Unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAF V600 mutation
• Adjuvant treatment of melanoma with a BRAF V600 mutation

Approved in United States as Tafinlar for:

• Unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAF V600E mutation
• Adjuvant treatment of melanoma with a BRAF V600E or V600K mutation
• Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with a BRAF V600E mutation

Approved in Canada as Tafinlar for:

• Unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAF V600 mutation
• Adjuvant treatment of melanoma with a BRAF V600 mutation

Approved in Japan as Tafinlar for:

• Unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAF V600 mutation

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,107

Recruited

1,813,000+

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Collaborator

Trials

14,080

Recruited

41,180,000+

Findings from Research

In a phase II trial involving 21 patients with unresectable locally advanced melanoma, neoadjuvant treatment with dabrafenib and trametinib enabled radical surgical resection in 86% of participants, with 81% achieving complete (R0) resection.

The median recurrence-free survival for patients who underwent surgery was 9.9 months, indicating that this combination therapy is a promising option for patients with previously inoperable melanoma.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Neoadjuvant Cytoreductive Treatment With BRAF/MEK Inhibition of Prior Unresectable Regionally Advanced Melanoma to Allow Complete Surgical Resection, REDUCTOR: A Prospective, Single-arm, Open-label Phase II Trial. Blankenstein, SA., Rohaan, MW., Klop, WMC., et al.[2021]

Combination therapy with dabrafenib and trametinib for BRAF-mutated metastatic melanoma showed a high overall response rate, with 64.6% of patients achieving a partial response and 6.2% achieving a complete response, indicating its efficacy in treating this condition.

The treatment was found to be relatively safe, with only 8.3% of patients experiencing severe adverse events, and 62.5% of patients remained on treatment, suggesting good tolerability in a real-life clinical setting.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Combined therapy with dabrafenib and trametinib in BRAF-mutated metastatic melanoma in a real-life setting: the INT Milan experience. Cavalieri, S., Di Guardo, L., Cimminiello, C., et al.[2017]

In a study of 78 BRAF inhibitor-naive patients with BRAF V600 mutation-positive metastatic melanoma treated with dabrafenib and trametinib, the median overall survival was over 2 years, with 72% of patients alive at 1 year and 47% at 3 years.

Approximately 20% of patients were progression-free at 3 years, with better outcomes associated with having fewer than three organ metastases and lower baseline lactate dehydrogenase levels, suggesting these factors may help predict durable responses.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Overall Survival and Durable Responses in Patients With BRAF V600-Mutant Metastatic Melanoma Receiving Dabrafenib Combined With Trametinib. Long, GV., Weber, JS., Infante, JR., et al.[2022]

In a study of 66 patients with metastatic BRAF-mutated melanoma treated with dabrafenib and trametinib, 15 patients achieved a complete response (CR), indicating a significant survival benefit from this treatment.

The likelihood of achieving a complete response was higher in patients with smaller lesions (39.3% CR rate) compared to those with larger lesions (10.5% CR rate), suggesting that lesion size and the number of metastatic sites are important factors in treatment outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

BRAFi/MEKi in patients with metastatic melanoma: predictive factors of complete response. Ribero, S., Malavenda, O., Fava, P., et al.[2019]

In a phase 3 trial involving 870 patients with resected stage III melanoma and BRAF V600 mutations, the combination of dabrafenib and trametinib significantly improved relapse-free survival, with a 3-year rate of 58% compared to 39% for the placebo group.

The combination therapy also showed a higher overall survival rate of 86% versus 77% in the placebo group, indicating its efficacy without introducing new safety concerns, as the safety profile was consistent with previous studies in metastatic melanoma.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adjuvant Dabrafenib plus Trametinib in Stage III BRAF-Mutated Melanoma. Long, GV., Hauschild, A., Santinami, M., et al.[2023]

Trametinib, when combined with dabrafenib, significantly prolongs median survival by about 8 months compared to vemurafenib alone in patients with metastatic or inoperable melanoma, based on a study of 704 patients.

While trametinib can enhance treatment efficacy, it also carries serious adverse effects, including life-threatening conditions like heart failure and gastrointestinal perforation, making it essential for patients to weigh the benefits against the risks.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Trametinib (MEKINIST°) Metastatic or inoperable BRAF V600-positive melanoma: a few extra months of life. [2019]

The combination of dabrafenib and trametinib significantly improves progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAF (V600E/K) mutation, compared to monotherapy with dabrafenib or vemurafenib, based on results from two large phase III studies.

This combination therapy is well-tolerated, showing no increase in overall toxicity compared to monotherapy, and results in fewer skin-related adverse events, likely due to reduced activation of the MAPK pathway.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dabrafenib plus Trametinib: a Review in Advanced Melanoma with a BRAF (V600) Mutation. Dhillon, S.[2022]

The combination of BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib and MEK inhibitor trametinib significantly improves outcomes for metastatic melanoma patients compared to single-agent therapies, with a manageable safety profile.

While 98% of patients experience at least one adverse event during combination therapy, these events are mostly mild to moderate and can be effectively managed, highlighting the importance of addressing even minor side effects to maintain patients' quality of life.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The safety and efficacy of dabrafenib and trametinib for the treatment of melanoma. Knispel, S., Zimmer, L., Kanaki, T., et al.[2017]

In a study involving 112 Japanese patients with unresectable and metastatic melanoma, the combination therapy of dabrafenib and trametinib showed a significant objective response rate of 55.45%, indicating its efficacy in treating BRAF V600 mutation-positive melanoma.

The safety profile of the combination therapy was consistent with previous trials, with 75% of patients experiencing adverse drug reactions, the most common being pyrexia and hepatic function abnormalities, but no new safety concerns were identified.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Interim analysis for post-marketing surveillance of dabrafenib and trametinib combination therapy in Japanese patients with unresectable and metastatic melanoma with BRAF V600 mutation. Teshima, Y., Kizaki, M., Kurihara, R., et al.[2022]

Dabrafenib and trametinib, both targeting the MAPK pathway, have shown significant efficacy in treating BRAF-mutant metastatic melanoma, with dabrafenib achieving a 59% objective response rate and improved progression-free survival compared to traditional chemotherapy.

The combination of dabrafenib and trametinib resulted in higher response rates and longer median progression-free survival than dabrafenib alone, while also presenting less cutaneous toxicity, making it a promising treatment option for patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dabrafenib and trametinib, alone and in combination for BRAF-mutant metastatic melanoma. Menzies, AM., Long, GV.[2022]

In a real-world study of 20 patients with resected stage III BRAF-mutant melanoma, 90% experienced treatment-related toxicities requiring at least one interruption, highlighting the need for careful monitoring during therapy.

The most common adverse events included recurrent fever and chills (85%) and liver abnormalities (50%), with 65% of patients permanently discontinuing treatment due to these side effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Treatment related toxicities with combination BRAF and MEK inhibitor therapy in resected stage III melanoma. Homan, M., Warrier, G., Lao, CD., et al.[2022]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Neoadjuvant Cytoreductive Treatment With BRAF/MEK Inhibition of Prior Unresectable Regionally Advanced Melanoma to Allow Complete Surgical Resection, REDUCTOR: A Prospective, Single-arm, Open-label Phase II Trial. [2021]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Combined therapy with dabrafenib and trametinib in BRAF-mutated metastatic melanoma in a real-life setting: the INT Milan experience. [2017]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Overall Survival and Durable Responses in Patients With BRAF V600-Mutant Metastatic Melanoma Receiving Dabrafenib Combined With Trametinib. [2022]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

BRAFi/MEKi in patients with metastatic melanoma: predictive factors of complete response. [2019]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adjuvant Dabrafenib plus Trametinib in Stage III BRAF-Mutated Melanoma. [2023]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adjuvant dabrafenib and trametinib for patients with resected BRAF -mutated melanoma: DESCRIBE-AD real-world retrospective observational study. [2023]

7. France pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Trametinib (MEKINIST°) Metastatic or inoperable BRAF V600-positive melanoma: a few extra months of life. [2019]

8. France pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dabrafenib plus Trametinib: a Review in Advanced Melanoma with a BRAF (V600) Mutation. [2022]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The safety and efficacy of dabrafenib and trametinib for the treatment of melanoma. [2017]

10. Japan pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Interim analysis for post-marketing surveillance of dabrafenib and trametinib combination therapy in Japanese patients with unresectable and metastatic melanoma with BRAF V600 mutation. [2022]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dabrafenib and trametinib, alone and in combination for BRAF-mutant metastatic melanoma. [2022]

12. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Treatment related toxicities with combination BRAF and MEK inhibitor therapy in resected stage III melanoma. [2022]

13. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Neoadjuvant dabrafenib combined with trametinib for resectable, stage IIIB-C, BRAFV600 mutation-positive melanoma (NeoCombi): a single-arm, open-label, single-centre, phase 2 trial. [2020]