The FDA has approved two new oral kinase inhibitors for treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma: dabrafenib (Tafinlar – GSK) for melanomas with BRAF V600E mutations and trametinib (Mekinist – GSK) for melanomas with either BRAF V600E or V600K mutations. Dabrafenib is not recommended for patients with wild-type BRAF (BRAF-negative) melanoma, and trametinib is not recommended for patients who have received prior BRAF-inhibitor therapy.

STANDARD TREATMENT — BRAF V600E mutations are found in about 30-60% and BRAF V600K mutations are in about 10% of metastatic melanomas. First-line therapy for BRAF V600E mutant unresectable or metastatic melanoma is vemurafenib (Zelboraf), the first BRAF inhibitor approved by the FDA.1 For BRAF wild-type unresectable or metastatic melanoma, first-line therapy includes ipilimumab (Yervoy), an injectable ... more      

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