Mitogen-activated protein kinase blockade in melanoma: intermittent versus continuous therapy, from preclinical to clinical data

Purpose of review Although targeted therapy provides a high response rate and rapid disease control in advanced melanoma, most patients experience disease progression due to acquired resistance mechanisms leading to reactivation of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. The purpose of this article is to review the recently published data on the impact of an intermittent versus continuous dosing schedule of BRAF and MEK inhibition in advanced melanoma to determine the best approach in clinical practice. Recent findings Some preclinical studies have highlighted the concept that drug-resistant cells may also display drug dependency, such that intermittent dosing of targeted therapy may prevent the emergence of lethal drug resistance. Moreover, clinical observations have suggested that repeated treatment after a break or an intervening therapy may provide clinical benefit. However, recent preclinical and clinical studies have also failed to demonstrate an advantage of intermittent dosing and showed a similar efficacy of the intermittent versus continuous regimens of BRAF and MEK inhibitors in mice models and phase 2 clinical trial. Owing to these discordant results, continuous dosing of BRAF and MEK inhibitors remains the optimal therapeutic approach until additional clinical data demonstrate the superiority of another combination or dosing regimen.

Automated summary

Although targeted therapy provides a high response rate and rapid disease control in advanced melanoma, acquired resistance mechanisms often lead to disease progression. Recent studies have explored intermittent dosing of BRAF and MEK inhibitors as a potential way to prevent lethal drug resistance, but results have been inconclusive with some showing no advantage over continuous dosing. Additional clinical data is needed to determine the optimal therapeutic approach.