ATC Group: L01EC B-Raf serine-threonine kinase (BRAF) inhibitors

Dabrafenib is an inhibitor of RAF kinases. Oncogenic mutations in BRAF lead to constitutive activation of the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway. BRAF mutations have been identified at a high frequency in specific cancers, including approximately 50% of melanoma. Dabrafenib demonstrated suppression of a downstream pharmacodynamic biomarker (phosphorylated ERK) and inhibited cell growth of BRAF V600 mutant melanoma cell lines, in vitro and in animal models.

Encorafenib is a potent and highly selective ATP-competitive small molecule RAF kinase inhibitor. Encorafenib suppresses the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway in tumour cells expressing several mutated forms of BRAF kinase (V600E, D and K). Specifically, encorafenib inhibits in vitro and in vivo BRAF^V600E,DandK mutant melanoma cell growth.

Vemurafenib is an inhibitor of BRAF serine-threonine kinase. Mutations in the BRAF gene result in constitutive activation of BRAF proteins, which can cause cell proliferation without associated growth factors. Before taking vemurafenib, patients must have BRAF V600 mutation-positive tumour status confirmed by a validated test.