Experts Prof. Sebastian Stintzing and Dr Thomas Winder discuss the significance of BRAF mutations in colorectal cancer (CRC), and the testing strategies and available treatments for these patients.  

They consider the prevalence and types of BRAF mutations in CRC patients and highlight the poor prognosis for these patients. The experts also cover the optimal time and methods for testing for BRAF mutations, as well as the targeted therapies currently available for BRAF-mutated CRC.  

Several key trials are discussed, including the BEACON trial which resulted in encorafenib plus cetuximab being the standard of care in the second-line setting for patients with BRAF mutated CRC.  

The discussion also looks at future studies including the BREAKWATER trial, which will provide important information about encorafenib plus cetuximab in the first-line for these patients, as well as the SEAMARK trial which will show the effects of adding immunotherapy to this combination.   

Key clinical takeaways: 

• BRAF mutations occur in around 10% of colorectal cancer patients and patients harbouring these have aggressive disease and a poor prognosis 

• Targeted therapies are available for BRAF-mutated CRC so it is important to test patients early in their disease preferably with next-generation sequencing 

• Encorafenib plus cetuximab are established as the standard of care in the second-line setting for BRAF-mutated CRC 

• Doublet chemotherapy plus anti-VEGF is currently the preferred treatment in the first-line. The BREAKWATER trial will determine whether the combination of encorafenib plus cetuximab is a suitable first-line treatment option 

Would you prefer to watch the experts in conversation? This podcast episode is also available in video format, here: https://youtu.be/Pp7oAI9JW4A 

Download the transcript and find out more about this programme and the featured experts here: https://cor2ed.com/gi-connect/programmes/braf-mutated-crc-testing-treatment/ 

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This content is intended for healthcare professionals outside of the UK only.  

The medical experts in this podcast are expressing their own views and not those of COR2ED, Supporters or their institution. This podcast is supported by an Independent Education Grant from Pierre Fabre 

This podcast was developed by https://cor2ed.com/  

Published November 2024 

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