Dr. Schuchter on Testing for a BRAF Mutation in Melanoma

Lynn M. Schuchter, MD, division chief of hematology-oncology at the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia provides information for community oncologists about BRAF mutation testing in melanoma.

Dr. Schuchter says that community oncologists have a good understanding of mutations that occur in cancer and have information about melanoma as a new potential area to think about targeted therapies. She says they need information about finding out if a patient has a mutated BRAF gene. There needs to be close communication with the pathologist and the medical oncologist about collecting the right tumor specimen to be able to submit it for testing. The company is planning a diagnostic test so that a physician can collect a patient's block, send it to the company for testing and determine if a patient has a BRAF inhibitor.