Multinational retrospective study of dabrafenib-trametinib versus anti-PD-1 monotherapy after resection of BRAFV600-mutant stage III melanoma

Both dabrafenib-trametinib (D-T) and anti-PD-1 monotherapy (PD-1) are approved adjuvant therapies for patients with stage III BRAFV600-mutant melanoma. A multinational retrospective cohort study compared both therapies. The primary endpoint was relapse-free survival (RFS). At a median follow-up of 33 months, the median RFS was 51.0 months in the D-T group, significantly longer than the 44.8 months in the PD-1 group (HR 0.66; p=0.003), but this did not translate into an overall survival advantage (HR 1.00; p=0.99). Among those who experienced recurrence, the proportion of distant metastases with higher in the D-T cohort. D-T had a higher incidence of treatment modification due to adverse events than PD-1, but fewer persistent AEs. The authors conclude that DT-seems to provide a better outcome compared with PD-1, but longer follow-up is needed.