Preoperative BRAF inhibition in patients with irresectable locally advanced stage III melanoma.

Aim: Neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced disease with BRAF inhibitors is expected to increase the likelihood of a R0 resection. We present six patients with stage III unresectable melanoma, neoadjuvantly treated with BRAF inhibitors.
Methods: Patients with unresectable, BRAF -mutated, stage III melanoma, were treated with BRAF inhibitors between 2012 and 2015. Unresectability was determined based on clinical and/or radiological findings. At maximal response, resection was performed. The specimen was reviewed to determine the degree of response.
Results: In five of six patients a radical resection was achieved. Postoperative complications were unremarkable. In five of six resected specimens, vital tumor tissue was found.
Conclusion: Neoadjuvant BRAF inhibitor treatment of locally advanced melanoma is feasible and has the potential to facilitate an R0 resection.
Competing Interests: Financial & competing interests disclosure GAP Hospers is in the advisory board of Roche and Novartis (payment to the institution). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.