In BRAF-mutated high-risk melanoma, targeted therapy (BRAF/MEK inhibitors) and checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) immunotherapy have durable benefits as first-line (1L) adjuvant therapy. Based on differing action mechanisms of BRAF/MEK inhibitors and CPI immunotherapies, there is interest in evaluating the activity of 2L adjuvant targeted therapy in decreasing the risk of subsequent recurrence after repeat resection following relapse on/after 1L adjuvant CPI.
This was a retrospective review of BRAF V600-mutated resected stage III/IV melanoma patients in the United States, Australia, and The Netherlands who received 1L adjuvant CPI immunotherapy, relapsed locoregionally/distantly, were again resected to no evidence of disease, and received dabrafenib/trametinib (dab/tram) as 2L adjuvant therapy. The primary endpoint was relapse-free survival (RFS) from initiation of 2L adjuvant dab/tram (RFS-2), analyzed via Kaplan-Meier methods.
Thirty-eight patients were included (median age 50 years, 63% male, 87% stage III, median follow-up 19 months from 2L dab/tram initiation). Median dab/tram duration was 10.1 months (range: 1 day-22.7 months), with half discontinuing due to progression or adverse events. Median (95% CI) RFS-2 was 18.9 (14.9-28.1) months, with 91%, 81%, and 58% remaining relapse-free at 6, 12, and 18 months, respectively. Most patients remained distant metastasis-free at 6, 12, and 18 months (97%, 85%, and 71%, respectively). Two patients were deceased at the last follow-up, with 97% alive at 18 months.
Over 80% of patients remained relapse- and metastasis-free at 12 months after 2L dab/tram initiation, with only 2 deaths observed. Dab/tram appears to have activity in the 2L adjuvant setting, although more follow-up is required.