Close to half of melanoma patients have a BRAF mutation that makes them a potential candidate for BRAF inhibitor therapy. But in a separate presentation at the meeting, Dr. Michael Postow, an oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, urged dermatologists not to think only of the FDA-approved BRAF test when they have a patient diagnosed with melanoma.
"It’s really worthwhile to do more extensive molecular profiling of those patients, because you may find another targetable mutation," said Dr. Postow. "I would encourage you to refer any patients you have that are being diagnosed with melanoma for a larger institutional evaluation where more extensive molecular characterization of the tumor can be performed," he added.
Dr. Sligh is on the advisory board for and a consultant to Genentech, and he has received research grants from DermSpectra and SciBase. Dr. Postow reported serving as an unpaid adviser to Bristol-Myers Squibb.
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