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The use of vemurafenib in A ustralian patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma containing the V 600 BRAF gene mutation
Author(s) -
Brown Michael P,
Long Georgina V
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
asia‐pacific journal of clinical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 1743-7563
pISSN - 1743-7555
DOI - 10.1111/ajco.12200
Subject(s) - vemurafenib , medicine , melanoma , metastatic melanoma , cancer research , limiting , adverse effect , oncology , mutation , gene , biology , mechanical engineering , biochemistry , engineering
Metastatic melanoma remains one of the major causes of death related to skin cancers and has been resistant to traditional anticancer therapies. The clinical development of vemurafenib in the treatment of metastatic melanoma with the V 600 mutation of the BRAF gene has provided meaningful improvements in the overall survival and progression‐free survival of metastatic melanoma patients. However, significant side effects have been noted with this therapy, in particular cutaneous adverse events ( AEs ) such as rashes, squamous cell carcinoma and severe photosensitivity to UVA light among others. With an emphasis on the A ustralian perspective, this review provides an overview of the clinical development of vemurafenib, its attendant dose‐limiting toxicities and other AEs , recommendations for safety monitoring, supportive treatments of AEs and dose modifications, with the aim of maximizing the chances of continuing beneficial treatment.