Real-world efficacy of the dabrafenib-trametinib (D-T) combination in BRAF V600E-mutated metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): Results from the IFCT-2004 BLaDE cohort

•The D-T combination is approved for use in noncomparative phase II trials.•D-T combination therapy has significant efficacy in a real-world setting.•The D-T combination has an acceptable toxicity profile.•BRAF V600E alterations must be included in the panel from diagnosis. BRAF V600E mutations occur in 2–5 % of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The dabrafenib-trametinib (D-T) combination was associated with improved and durable OS in patients in phase II. This study (IFCT-2004 BLaDE study) reported the efficacy of D-T combination in a large retrospective French real-world multicenter cohort of patients with advanced BRAF V600E-mutated NSCLC. Patients with advanced BRAF V600E-mutated NSCLC diagnosed between 01.01.2016 and 31.12.2019 and treated with D-T in combination, regardless of the treatment line, were included. The primary endpoint was the 12-month OS rate (%) in patients receiving D-T as a second-line therapy or beyond. A total of 163 patients were included: 50.3 % were female, 30.2 % were never smokers, 95.1 % had adenocarcinoma, and 78.2 % had a PDL1 ≥ 1 %. The median age was 68.3 years. At D-T initiation, 80.8 % of patients had a PS of 0/1, 78.6 % had stage IV disease, and 20.9 % had brain metastasis. At the cutoff, the median follow-up was 27.4 months. The 12-month OS rate in patients receiving D + T as a second-line therapy or beyond (n = 119) was 67.4 %, with a median progression-free survival (mPFS) of 10.4 months. Among the 44 patients who received D + T as a first-line therapy, the 12-month OS rate was 67.4 %, with an mPFS of 18.2 months. D-T discontinuation for toxicity was reported in 10.3 % of patients. To our knowledge, this is the largest retrospective cohort of BRAF-mutated patients reported. The findings confirmed the significant efficacy of D-T in combination with BRAF V600E-mutated metastatic NSCLC in pretreated and untreated patients. These results under real-world conditions are consistent with those of other registered studies.