Mechanisms of Acquired BRAF Inhibitor Resistance in Melanoma: A Systematic Review

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Patients with advanced melanoma are often treated with v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) inhibitors. Although these agents prolong life, patients inevitably develop resistance and their cancer progresses. This review examines all of the potential ways that melanoma cells develop resistance to BRAF inhibitors. These mechanisms involve genetic and epigenetic changes that activate different signaling pathways, thereby bypassing the effect of BRAF inhibition, but they also involve a change in cell phenotype and the suppression of anticancer immune responses. Currently, BRAF inhibitor resistance can be partially overcome by combining a BRAF inhibitor with a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor, but many other combinations are being tested. Eventually, it may be possible to choose the best combination of drugs based on the genetic profile of an individual’s cancer. ABSTRACT: This systematic review investigated the literature on acquired v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) inhibitor resistance in patients with melanoma. We searched MEDLINE for articles on BRAF inhibitor resistance in patients with melanoma published since January 2010 in the following areas: (1) genetic basis of resistance; (2) epigenetic and transcriptomic mechanisms; (3) influence of the immune system on resistance development; and (4) combination therapy to overcome resistance. Common resistance mutations in melanoma are BRAF splice variants, BRAF amplification, neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog (NRAS) mutations and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/2 (MEK1/2) mutations. Genetic and epigenetic changes reactivate previously blocked mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, activate alternative signaling pathways, and cause epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Once BRAF inhibitor resistance develops, the tumor microenvironment reverts to a low immunogenic state secondary to the induction of programmed cell death ligand-1. Combining a BRAF inhibitor with a MEK inhibitor delays resistance development and increases duration of response. Multiple other combinations based on known mechanisms of resistance are being investigated. BRAF inhibitor-resistant cells develop a range of ‘escape routes’, so multiple different treatment targets will probably be required to overcome resistance. In the future, it may be possible to personalize combination therapy towards the specific resistance pathway in individual patients.