Treatment patterns of melanoma by BRAF mutation status in the USA from 2011 to 2017: a retrospective cohort study

AIM: To describe treatment changes from 2011 to 2017 and demographic/clinical characteristics of patients with advanced melanoma who received systemic therapy by BRAF status. PATIENTS & METHODS: Treatment patterns were evaluated in adults from the Oncology Services Comprehensive Electronic Records database who received antimelanoma systemic therapy. RESULTS: Checkpoint inhibitors were prevailingly prescribed (66%); usage increased from 2011 (21%) to 2017 (84%). BRAF/MEK inhibitors were the second most common (21%); usage increased from 2011 (6%) to 2012 (18%) and stabilized until 2017 (22%). BRAF/MEK inhibitors (65%) and checkpoint inhibitors (57%) were predominantly used for BRAF(Mut) melanoma. CONCLUSION: Overall, checkpoint inhibitors have supplanted other therapies for advanced melanoma. Treatment shifts have occurred for BRAF(Mut) melanoma, notably increased use of checkpoint inhibitors and BRAF/MEK combinations compared with monotherapies.