New drug combination shows potential for melanoma treatment

A research team, led by Dr. Sheri Holmen from the Huntsman Cancer Institute, is testing a new drug combination to treat melanoma that has spread to the brain. This condition is difficult to manage and often leads to death. The team aims to address a significant need for better treatment options for patients facing this challenge. Dr. Holmen's team studied why melanoma cells move to the brain and identified an enzyme called focal adhesion kinase (FAK) as a key player in this process. Their research shows that targeting FAK can help in both treating existing tumors and preventing new brain metastases. While early melanoma can often be treated through surgery, once it spreads, options become limited. Current treatments such as immunotherapy and oral drug therapies are less effective for brain metastases. Holmen noted that patients often do not respond well to these therapies after the cancer spreads. The survival window for patients with brain metastases is short, averaging about a year. In their studies, the team combined a FAK inhibitor with drugs that target the RAF and MEK pathways, showing promising results in mice. This combination not only treated existing tumors in the brain but also prevented new ones from developing. The oral treatment, which includes the drugs defactinib and avutometinib, could be easier for patients, especially those in rural areas. It could reduce the need for difficult travel to receive treatments that require infusions. The research has progressed to clinical trials at the Huntsman Cancer Institute and the University of Iowa, focusing on patients with melanoma that has spread to the brain. The study is supported by various health institutions and aims to offer new hope for those affected by this aggressive form of cancer.