Onkológia 1/2022

Current treatment options for BRAF mutant metastatic colorectal cancer

BRAF mutation is seen in nearly one in ten patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Despite major improvements in survival for advanced colorectal cancer overall, patients with BRAF mutation continue to have a very poor prognosis often with median survival of less than 12 months. It is important for clinicians to be aware of this subgroup as the treatment approach should be different. Treatment options beyond standard chemotherapy are crucial to achieve better outcomes and the role of anti-EGFR therapy alone remains controversial. FOLFOXIRI regimen in combination with bevacizumab represents treatment of choice for most previously untreated patients. Using of check point inhibitors and BRAF inhibitors has been associated with improved overall survival.

Keywords: colorectal cancer, BRAF V600E mutation, signalling pathway, chemotherapy, check point inhibitors, BRAF inhibitors