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BRAF/MEK Stopping — SCE Medical Oncology MCQ

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HardMelanoma & SkinBRAF/MEK StoppingSCE Medical Oncology

A 62-year-old woman with cutaneous melanoma and a BRAF V600E mutation achieves a complete response on dabrafenib + trametinib after 2 years. Should treatment be continued indefinitely or can it be stopped?

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Correct answer: C — Treatment duration for BRAF/MEK inhibitors in metastatic melanoma is not well defined

Unlike ICI (2-year maximum with good retreatment data), there is no established stopping rule for BRAF/MEK targeted therapy. Most patients are continued until progression or intolerance. Some patients with sustained CR discuss cessation with their oncologist, but relapse rates after stopping are high (~50%+ within months), and responses to rechallenge are variable. The bioMEL study and retrospective series provide limited data on targeted therapy cessation. This remains an unresolved clinical question.

Reference: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/conditions-and-diseases/cancer