一项针对黑色素瘤中常见基因突变的实验性药物研究证实，药物dabrafenib成功地缩小了发生脑转移的黑色素瘤患者的肿瘤病灶，有效率达90%。这项国际临床I期药物试验研究发表在5月18日的国际著名杂志《柳叶刀》（The Lancet）上。
BRAF基因编码丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶B-Raf,与细胞生长调控密切相关。在黑色素瘤中，BRAF常常突变引发细胞生长调控紊乱。Dabrafenib针对突变型BRAF--Val600 BRAF发挥作用。
为了证实其安全性和耐受性，并为II期临床试验提供剂量参考，研究者招募了184名实体肿瘤患者进行试验，其中156名具有转移性黑色素瘤。根据加速剂量滴定法（accelerated dose titration method），经过系统的Dabrafenib治疗，研究者未发现因药物副作用终止治疗和死亡的病例。而且，Dabrafenib还对BRAF突变型的其他实体肿瘤如：胃肠实体瘤，非小细胞肺癌，卵巢癌等也有明显的抗癌作用。（生物谷Bioon.com）
doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60398-5
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Dabrafenib in patients with melanoma, untreated brain metastases, and other solid tumours: a phase 1 dose-escalation trial
Original TextDr Gerald S Falchook MD , Georgina V Long PhD , Prof Razelle Kurzrock MD , Kevin B Kim MD , Tobias H Arkenau PhD e, Michael P Brown PhD f, Omid Hamid MD , Jeffrey R Infante MD , Michael Millward MD i j, Anna C Pavlick MD , Steven J O’Day MD g, Samuel C Blackman PhD , C Martin Curtis BA l, Peter Lebowitz PhD , Bo Ma PhD , Daniele Ouellet PhD l, Prof Richard F Kefford PhD
Background
Dabrafenib is an inhibitor of BRAF kinase that is selective for mutant BRAF. We aimed to assess its safety and tolerability and to establish a recommended phase 2 dose in patients with incurable solid tumours, especially those with melanoma and untreated, asymptomatic brain metastases.
Methods
We undertook a phase 1 trial between May 27, 2009, and March 20, 2012, at eight study centres in Australia and the USA. Eligible patients had incurable solid tumours, were 18 years or older, and had adequate organ function. BRAF mutations were mandatory for inclusion later in the study because of an absence of activity in patients with wild-type BRAF. We used an accelerated dose titration method, with the first dose cohort receiving 12 mg dabrafenib daily in a 21-day cycle. Once doses had been established, we expanded the cohorts to include up to 20 patients. On the basis of initial data, we chose a recommended phase 2 dose. Efficacy at the recommended phase 2 dose was studied in patients with BRAF-mutant tumours, including those with non-Val600Glu mutations, in three cohorts: metastatic melanoma, melanoma with untreated brain metastases, and non-melanoma solid tumours. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00880321.
Findings
We enrolled 184 patients, of whom 156 had metastatic melanoma. The most common treatment-related adverse events of grade 2 or worse were cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma (20 patients, 11%), fatigue (14, 8%), and pyrexia (11, 6%). Dose reductions were necessary in 13 (7%) patients. No deaths or discontinuations resulted from adverse events, and 140 (76%) patients had no treatment-related adverse events worse than grade 2. Doses were increased to 300 mg twice daily, with no maximum tolerated dose recorded. On the basis of safety, pharmacokinetic, and response data, we selected a recommended phase 2 dose of 150 mg twice daily. At the recommended phase 2 dose in 36 patients with Val600 BRAF-mutant melanoma, responses were reported in 25 (69%, 95% CI 51·9—83·7) and confirmed responses in 18 (50%, 32·9—67·1). 21 (78%, 57·7—91·4) of 27 patients with Val600Glu BRAF-mutant melanoma responded and 15 (56%, 35·3—74·5) had a confirmed response. In Val600 BRAF-mutant melanoma, responses were durable, with 17 patients (47%) on treatment for more than 6 months. Responses were recorded in patients with non-Val600Glu BRAF mutations. In patients with melanoma and untreated brain metastases, nine of ten patients had reductions in size of brain lesions. In 28 patients with BRAF-mutant non-melanoma solid tumours, apparent antitumour activity was noted in a gastrointestinal stromal tumour, papillary thyroid cancers, non-small-cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and colorectal cancer.
Interpretation
Dabrafenib is safe in patients with solid tumours, and an active inhibitor of Val600-mutant BRAF with responses noted in patients with melanoma, brain metastases, and other solid tumours.
