Ready to continue learning about biomarkers?
You can find the last #CTUinCT post on the button below:
Today, let’s tackle the next important CRC biomarker BRAF
Did you know we have a BRAF QuickStart Guide in COLONTOWN University? If you haven’t checked it out already, please do!
How many people here have tumors with a BRAF mutation? When did you find this out?
About 10-15% of Colorectal cancer has a mutated BRAF gene. The most common BRAF mutation is BRAF V600E. So when people talk about BRAF, they usually mean BRAFV600E. There are other BRAF mutations besides BRAF V600E, these are called atypical BRAF mutations.
How do you know if your tumor is BRAF mutated? Most NCI cancer centers test tumors from stage III and stage IV patients for BRAF V600E mutations. Tumor genomic testing panels can identify BRAF mutations so can liquid biopsies.
Why is it important for patients to find out the BRAF status of their tumor? For early-stage patients, this can help them stay on top of surveillance as BRAF V600E mutations generally cause a more aggressive form of cancer. There is an enrolling clinical trial for BRAF V600E after completing treatment for non-metastatic CRC.
Trial info It is open in the US in 190 locations.
For stage IV patients, it is important to know this, as additional treatment options like combination targeted therapies are available for this subset of patients. This type of colorectal cancer can be aggressive and clinical trials are a great option for patients to expand on treatments that are available for this subset of disease.
In COLONTOWN, we have the BRAF Clinic for patients with BRAF mutations and their caregivers. This is an active group with lots of treatment- and trials-related discussions, so this is a great group for you to join. If you are interested, please contact Shauna Gruwell.
Back to the CTU BRAF Guide.. It is organized such that it takes you through a few DocTalks to bring you quickly up to speed on what all is known about treating BRAF mutated MSS colorectal cancer.
Lastly, BRAF mutations are also seen in a subset of MSI-H colorectal cancer. In this case, treatment is usually focused on the MSI-H status. Patients with tumors that are MSI-H and BRAF mutated usually have “sporadic” colorectal cancer and are unlikely to have Lynch Syndrome.
I will be back soon with another post on #CTUinCT.
Until then, take care! #ToLife! #ToScience!
— Dr. George