publication date: Jul. 12, 2019

Clinical Roundup

Triplet-targeted therapy improves survival in colorectal cancer

The three-drug combination of encorafenib, binimetinib, and cetuximab significantly improved overall survival in patients with BRAF-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer, according to results of the BEACON CRC phase III clinical trial led by researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

The treatment combination resulted in median OS of 9 months for the combination therapy compared to 5.4 months for current standard-of-care treatment. Objective response rate for the triplet-targeted therapy was 26% compared to just two percent for standard therapy.

BEACON CRC is the first and only phase III trial designed to test BRAF/MEK combination targeted therapies in patients with mCRC and the BRAF V600E mutation. BRAF mutations are estimated to occur in up to 15% of patients with mCRC, with V600E being the most common BRAF mutation and representing a poor prognosis for these patients.

The trial results will be reported at the ESMO World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer 2019 by principal investigator Scott Kopetz, associate professor of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology.

The international study was a multi-institutional collaboration with over 200 centers worldwide. In the open label, three-arm randomized clinical trial, 665 patients with BRAF V600E-mutant mCRC who had progressed after one or two prior regimens in the metastatic setting were randomized to receive triplet therapy, doublet therapy (encorafenib and cetuximab) or the investigator’s choice of irinotecan or folinic acid., fluorouracil and irinotecan and cetuximab.

The triplet combination was generally well tolerated with no unexpected toxicities. Grade III or higher adverse events were seen in 58% of patients on triplet treatment, 50% of those in the doublet group and 61% of those in the standard therapy group.

In … Continue reading Triplet-targeted therapy improves survival in colorectal cancer

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