Sigrid Eckardt

BRAF mutation testing has become an essential tool in the diagnostic workup and management of patients with advanced melanoma. Activating mutations of BRAF are present in 40% to 60% of all melanoma cases, with more than 90% of mutations found at codon 600 in exon 15.

A long-term analysis has shown that approximately one-fifth of patients with BRAF V600-mutant melanoma who were treated with the combination of dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and trametinib (Mekinist) remained progression-free after 3 years, suggesting a plateau of the survival curve.