Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer harboring BRAF-V600E mutations have poor prognoses, highlighting a need to identify biomarkers that can optimize treatment. The recent BEACON trial showed that the combination of encorafenib (BRAF inhibitor) and cetuximab (anti-EGFR antibody), with or without binimetinib (MEK inhibitor), improved overall survival, objective response rates and progression-free survival in pretreated patients compared to those receiving cetuximab with chemotherapy.
In a follow-up analysis, researchers led by Scott Kopetz, M.D., Ph.D., performed genomic and transcriptional profiling on tumor tissue and plasma samples from patients treated with either combination to examine how the molecular environment changes following treatment. Patients who had tumors with a stronger immune signature showed an increased benefit from the triplet combination than with cetuximab and chemotherapy. The analysis also highlighted potential targets for overcoming treatment resistance.