Dr. Robert on the Phase III COMBI-v Study in BRAF-Mutant Melanoma

Caroline Robert, MD, PhD, Head of Dermatology, Institute Gustave-Roussy, discusses the results of the phase III COMBI-v study in BRAF-mutant melanoma during an interview at the ESMO 2016 Congress.

The study evaluated the efficacy of the combination of dabrafenib (Tafinlar) plus trametinib (Mekinist) compared with vemurafenib (Zelboraf) monotherapy in patients with BRAF V600 mutation-positive advanced melanoma.

Results of this study showed a 3-year survival rate of 45% for patients who received dabrafenib plus trametinib. Robert highlights the importance of these findings, given that before the era of targeted agents and immunotherapy, survival was quite dismal for the majority of patients. Future studies in this space will continue to examine the efficacy of combination therapies.