Belvarafenib penetrates the BBB and shows potent antitumor activity in a murine melanoma brain metastasis model

This study confirmed the brain penetration of belvarafenib, the antitumor activity on BRAF and NRAS mutant melanoma, and the efficacy on melanoma within the brain. Belvarafenib strongly suppressed melanoma in BRAF V600E mutant A375SM tumor-bearing mice. It also significantly inhibited tumor growth in NRAS mutant SK-MEL-30 and K1735 tumor-bearing mice and synergized to enhance the antitumor activity combined with cobimetinib or atezolizumab. Belvarafenib was penetrated at considerable levels into the brains of mice and rats following oral administration. The exposure of belvarafenib in the brain was similar to or higher than that in plasma, and this high brain penetration differed significantly from that of other BRAF inhibitors with low brain penetration. Most importantly, belvarafenib strongly reduced tumor burden and markedly improved survival benefits in mice intracranially implanted with A375SM melanoma. These results demonstrated that belvarafenib, which has favorable BBB permeability, and potent antitumor activity on the tumors with BRAF/NRAS mutations, may be a promising therapeutic option for patients with BRAF/NRAS mutant melanoma brain metastasis.

Source: Clinical and Experimental Metastasis - February 10, 2023 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research