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Background: BEACONCRC is a randomized, phase 3 study which evaluated the triplet of encorafenib (ENCO) + binimetinib (BINI) + cetuximab (CETUX) and the doublet of ENCO + CETUX vs. investigator's choice of irinotecan + CETUX or FOLFIRI + CETUX in patients (pts) with BRAFV600E metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) whose disease had progressed after 1-2 prior regimens in the metastatic setting. Primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and objective response rate (ORR; by blinded central review) for triplet vs control. In a previous interim analysis, triplet and doublet improvedOS andORRversus standard of care. Here we report on an updated analysis. Method(s): Updated analysis includes 6 months of additional follow-up and response data for all randomized pts. The study is ongoing. Result(s): Patients received triplet (n = 224), doublet (n = 220), or control (n = 221). Median OS was 9.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI]:8.2, 10.8) for triplet and 5.9 months (95% CI:5.1-7.1) for control (hazard ratio [HR] (95% CI): 0.60 (0.47-0.75)). Median OS for doublet was 9.3 months (95% CI: 8.0-11.3) (HR vs control: 0.61 (0.48- 0.77). Confirmed ORR was 26.8% (95% CI: 21.1%-33.1%) for triplet, 19.5% (95% CI: 14.5%-25.4%) for doublet, and 1.8% (95% CI: 0.5%- 4.6%) for control. Retrospective subgroup analyses suggested some pts may benefit more from triplet than doublet therapy (Table). Both triplet and doublet showedimprovedOS compared to control in all subgroups. Adverse events were consistent with prior analysis, with grade >=3 adverse events in 65.8%, 57.4%, and 64.2% for triplet, doublet and control, respectively. Conclusion(s): The updated analysis of the BEACON CRC study confirmed that encorafenib + cetuximab with or without binimetinib improved OS and ORR in previously treated pts with BRAF V600E mCRC compared with standard chemotherapy.

BRAF V600E mutations are identified in <=15% of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients and confer a poor prognosis. In patient's refractory to initial therapy, ORR to standard chemotherapy and biologic combinations are generally <10%, with median PFS and OS of ~2 and 4-6 months, respectively. The BEACON CRC Study (NCT02928224) was a multicentre, randomized, open-label, 3-arm, phase 3 study evaluating ENCO + CETUX +/- BINI (triplet or doublet combination) versus investigator's choice of Irinotecan or FOLFIRI + CETUX (control) in patients with BRAF V600E-mutant mCRC who had failed one or two prior regimens in the metastatic setting. Primary endpoints were OS and ORR (blinded central review) for the triplet versus control arm; secondary endpoints included OS for the doublet versus control arm, as well as PFS, duration of response and safety. A total of 665 patients were randomly assigned to receive: triplet combination (n= 224), doublet combination (n= 220) or control regimen (n= 221). Median OS was 9.0 months (95% CI, 8.0-11.4) for the triplet versus 5.4 months (95% CI, 4.8-6.6) for control regimens (HR: 0.52; 95% CI, 0.39-0.70; P < .0001). ConfirmedORR(blinded central review) was 26% (95% CI, 18-35%) for the triplet versus 2% (95% CI, <1% to 7%) for control (P < .0001). Median OS for the doublet was 8.4months (95% CI, 7.5-11.0) (HR vs control, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.45-0.79; P = .0003). Adverse events (AEs) were consistent with prior trials with each combination. AEs >=grade 3 occurred in 58%, 50% and 61% of patients in the triplet, doublet and control arms, respectively. ENCO + BINI + CETUX improved OS and ORR in patients with BRAF V600E-mutant mCRC compared with current standard of care chemotherapy and had a safety profile consistent with the known safety profile of each agent. This targeted therapy regimen should be a new standard of care for this patient population.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with a 5-year relative survival of 14% in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Patients with BRAF V600E mutations, which occur in ∼10%-15% of patients with mCRC, have a poorer prognosis compared with those with wild-type BRAF tumours. The combination of the BRAF inhibitor encorafenib with the epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor cetuximab currently represents the only chemotherapy-free targeted therapy approved in the USA and Europe for previously treated patients with BRAF V600E-mutated mCRC. As a class, BRAF inhibitors are associated with dermatologic, gastrointestinal, and renal events, as well as pyrexia and secondary skin malignancies. Adverse event (AE) profiles of specific BRAF inhibitors vary, however, and are affected by the specific agents given in combination. In patients with mCRC, commonly reported AEs of cetuximab monotherapy include infusion reactions and dermatologic toxicities. Data from the phase III BEACON CRC study indicate that the combination of encorafenib with cetuximab has a distinct safety profile. Here we review the most frequently reported AEs that occurred with this combination in BEACON CRC and best practices for managing and mitigating AEs that require more than standard supportive care.

PURPOSE: BEACON CRC evaluated encorafenib plus cetuximab with or without binimetinib versus investigators' choice of irinotecan or FOLFIRI plus cetuximab in patients with BRAFV600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), after progression on 1-2 prior regimens. In the previously reported primary analysis, encorafenib, binimetinib plus cetuximab (ENCO/BINI/CETUX; triplet) and encorafenib plus cetuximab (ENCO/CETUX; doublet) regimens improved overall survival (OS) and objective response rate (ORR; by blinded central review) versus standard of care. The purpose of this analysis was to report updated efficacy and safety data. METHODS: In this open-label, phase III trial, 665 patients with BRAF V600E-mutant mCRC were randomly assigned 1:1:1 to receive triplet, doublet, or control. Primary end points were OS and independently reviewed ORR comparing triplet to control. OS for doublet versus control was a key secondary end point. Updated analyses include 6 months of additional follow-up and ORR for all randomized patients. RESULTS: Patients received triplet (n = 224), doublet (n = 220), or control (n = 221). Median OS was 9.3 months (95% CI, 8.2 to 10.8) for triplet and 5.9 months (95% CI, 5.1 to 7.1) for control (hazard ratio [HR], 0.60 [95% CI, 0.47 to 0.75]). Median OS for doublet was 9.3 months (95% CI, 8.0 to 11.3) (HR v control, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.48 to 0.77]). Confirmed ORR was 26.8% (95% CI, 21.1% to 33.1%) for triplet, 19.5% (95% CI, 14.5% to 25.4%) for doublet, and 1.8% (95% CI, 0.5% to 4.6%) for control. Adverse events were consistent with the prior primary analysis, with grade ≥ 3 adverse events in 65.8%, 57.4%, and 64.2% for triplet, doublet, and control, respectively. CONCLUSION: In the BEACON CRC study, encorafenib plus cetuximab improved OS, ORR, and progression-free survival in previously treated patients in the metastatic setting compared with standard chemotherapy. Based on the primary and updated analyses, encorafenib plus cetuximab is a new standard ca

Purpose: Low-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (LGSOCs) have historically low chemotherapy responses. Alterations affecting the MAPK pathway, most commonly KRAS/BRAF, are present in 30%-60% of LGSOCs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate binimetinib, a potent MEK1/2 inhibitor with demonstrated activity across multiple cancers, in LGSOC. Methods: This was a 2:1 randomized study of binimetinib (45 mg twice daily) versus physician's choice chemotherapy (PCC). Eligible patients had recurrent measurable LGSOC after ≥ 1 prior platinum-based chemotherapy but ≤ 3 prior chemotherapy lines. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS) by blinded independent central review (BICR); additional assessments included overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR), duration of response (DOR), clinical-benefit rate, biomarkers, and safety. Results: A total of 303 patients were randomly assigned to an arm of the study at the time of interim analysis (January 20, 2016). Median PFS by BICR was 9.1 months (95% CI, 7.3 to 11.3) for binimetinib and 10.6 months (95% CI, 9.2 to 14.5) for PCC (hazard ratio,1.21; 95%CI, 0.79 to 1.86), resulting in early study closure according to a prespecified futility boundary after 341 patients had enrolled. Secondary efficacy end points were similar in the two groups: ORR 16% (complete response [CR]/partial responses[PRs], 32) versus 13% (CR/PRs, 13); median DOR, 8.1 months (range, 0.03 to ≥ 12.0 months) versus 6.7 months (0.03 to ≥ 9.7 months); and median OS, 25.3 versus 20.8 months for binimetinib and PCC, respectively. Safety results were consistent with the known safety profile of binimetinib; the most common grade ≥ 3 event was increased blood creatine kinase level (26%). Post hoc analysis suggests a possible association between KRAS mutation and response to binimetinib. Results from an updated analysis (n = 341; January 2019) were consistent. Conclusion: Although the MEK Inhibitor in Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Study did not m

PURPOSE: To determine the safety and preliminary efficacy of selective combination targeted therapy for BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in the safety lead-in phase of the open-label, randomized, three-arm, phase III BEACON Colorectal Cancer trial ( ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02928224; European Union Clinical Trials Register identifier: EudraCT2015-005805-35). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Before initiation of the randomized portion of the BEACON Colorectal Cancer trial, 30 patients with BRAF V600E-mutant mCRC who had experienced treatment failure with one or two prior regimens were to be recruited to a safety lead-in of encorafenib 300 mg daily, binimetinib 45 mg twice daily, plus standard weekly cetuximab. The primary end point was safety, including the incidence of dose-limiting toxicities. Efficacy end points included overall response rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival. RESULTS: Among the 30 treated patients, dose-limiting toxicities occurred in five patients and included serous retinopathy (n = 2), reversible decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (n = 1), and cetuximab-related infusion reactions (n = 2). The most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events were fatigue (13%), anemia (10%), increased creatine phosphokinase (10%), increased AST (10%), and urinary tract infections (10%). In 29 patients with BRAF V600E-mutant tumors (one patient had a non-BRAF V600E-mutant tumor and was not included in the efficacy analysis), the confirmed overall response rate was 48% (95% CI, 29.4% to 67.5%), median progression-free survival was 8.0 months (95% CI, 5.6 to 9.3 months), and median overall survival was 15.3 months (95% CI, 9.6 months to not reached), with median duration of follow-up of 18.2 months (range, 16.6 to 19.8 months). CONCLUSION: In the safety lead-in, the safety and tolerability of the encorafenib, binimetinib, and cetuximab regimen is manageable and acceptable for initiation of the randomized portion of the study. The