Sophia Boyoung Strobel1, Sylvie Pätzold2, Lisa Zimmer3, Alexandra Jensen4, Alexander Enk1, Jessica Cecile Hassel1. 1. Department of Dermatology and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. 2. Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany. 3. Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. 4. Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Increased skin toxicity during combination therapy with a BRAF inhibitor and radiation therapy has recently been reported. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We present seven melanoma patients with non-resectable stage III or IV disease and concomitant treatment with a BRAF inhibitor and radiation therapy. RESULTS: In all patients, combination therapy yielded a good local response. Only two patients, both on vemurafenib, showed severe radiation dermatitis (CTCAE grade 3/4) after one and two weeks, respectively, resulting in interruption of BRAF inhibitor treatment. The respective cumulative radiation dose was 10 Gy and 35 Gy. The remaining vemurafenib patients displayed only mild radiation dermatitis CTCAE grade 2; the only dabrafenib patient CTCAE grade 1. In one patient, recall dermatitis was diagnosed 14 days after completion of radiation therapy with a cumulative dose of 30 Gy. CONCLUSIONS: Severe skin toxicity caused by BRAF inhibitor-induced radiosensitization is not common and usually amenable to treatment. Thus, combination treatment should remain a therapeutic option, especially in melanoma patients characterized by aggressive tumor growth. Although there is an increased risk of skin toxicity during combination therapy, it is usually well tolerated by most patients. Sequential - instead of simultaneous - treatment does not seem to prevent such toxicity reactions.
BACKGROUND: Increased skin toxicity during combination therapy with a BRAF inhibitor and radiation therapy has recently been reported. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We present seven melanomapatients with non-resectable stage III or IV disease and concomitant treatment with a BRAF inhibitor and radiation therapy. RESULTS: In all patients, combination therapy yielded a good local response. Only two patients, both on vemurafenib, showed severe radiation dermatitis (CTCAE grade 3/4) after one and two weeks, respectively, resulting in interruption of BRAF inhibitor treatment. The respective cumulative radiation dose was 10 Gy and 35 Gy. The remaining vemurafenibpatients displayed only mild radiation dermatitis CTCAE grade 2; the only dabrafenibpatient CTCAE grade 1. In one patient, recall dermatitis was diagnosed 14 days after completion of radiation therapy with a cumulative dose of 30 Gy. CONCLUSIONS: Severe skin toxicity caused by BRAF inhibitor-induced radiosensitization is not common and usually amenable to treatment. Thus, combination treatment should remain a therapeutic option, especially in melanomapatients characterized by aggressive tumor growth. Although there is an increased risk of skin toxicity during combination therapy, it is usually well tolerated by most patients. Sequential - instead of simultaneous - treatment does not seem to prevent such toxicity reactions.
Authors: Wei Wang; Jessica Louise Smith; Matteo Salvatore Carlino; Bryan Burmeister; Mark Blayne Pinkham; Gerald Blaise Fogarty; David Robert Harry Christie; Vanessa Estall; Mark Shackleton; Arthur Clements; Rory Wolfe; Le Thi Phuong Thao; Elizabeth Jane Paton; Victoria Steel; Narelle Catherine Williams Journal: Clin Transl Radiat Oncol Date: 2021-08-14
Authors: Tina Jost; Barbara Schuster; Lucie Heinzerling; Thomas Weissmann; Rainer Fietkau; Luitpold V Distel; Markus Hecht Journal: Strahlenther Onkol Date: 2022-04-26 Impact factor: 4.033