Immunotherapy or targeted therapy as first-line treatment of patients with advanced/metastatic melanoma with the BRAF mutation — a single-center analysis

Introduction. One of the most important achievements of contemporary oncology is the discovery of new therapeutic possibilities: targeted therapy and immunotherapy associated with checkpoint inhibitors. It has not been unequivocally determined so far which therapy should be used as first-line treatment in patients with advanced/metastatic melanoma with the BRAF mutation. Material and methods. 137 patients with advanced/metastatic melanoma with the BRAF mutation were analyzed. They received anti-PD1-1 therapy (IT) or molecularly targeted therapy iBRAF ± iMEK (TT) as first-line treatment in the scope of the national drug program. IT and TT therapies used as first-line treatment were compared. Results. Median OS and PFS in the group were 14.0 and 7.3 months. Unfavorable prognostic factors for OS and PFS were metastases to the central nervous system, increased LDH levels and performance status > 1. Metastatic sites in > 2 locations were only unfavorable prognostic factors for OS. A statistically significant difference was found between TT and IT for OS (p = 0.0011; median for TT was 12.6 months and was not reached for IT). It should be noted that the group treated with TT was characterized by a worse prognostic factors. No differences in PFS were observed (p = 0.292, medians 7.2 and 9.0 months, respectively). Conclusion. In patients with advanced/metastatic melanoma with a BRAF mutation without rapid progression, IT should be considered as first-line therapy.