What is trametinib used for?

Posted on By Aman Kelley

What is trametinib used for?

What is trametinib? Trametinib is used alone or in combination with another medicine called dabrafenib (Tafinlar) to treat certain types of cancer in people who have a “BRAF” gene mutation.

Is trametinib a chemotherapy drug?

Trametinib is the generic name for the trade name chemotherapy drug Mekinist. In some cases, health care professionals may use the trade name Mekinist when referring to the generic name trametinib. Drug type: Trametinib is a targeted therapy.

What are dabrafenib and trametinib?

Dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and Trametinib (Mekinist) Dabrafenib and trametinib are types of targeted cancer drugs called cancer growth blockers. They are used together to treat: melanoma skin cancer that can’t be removed with surgery (unresectable) or has spread to other areas of the body (metastatic or advanced melanoma)

Why is trametinib used with dabrafenib?

The combination of dabrafenib and trametinib blocks the signaling pathway of the abnormal BRAF molecules. This action slows or stops the out-of-control cell growth: Dabrafenib targets the V600E-mutated BRAF molecule to block its signaling.

What are the side effects of trametinib?

More common

  • Burning, itching, and pain in hairy areas, pus at the root of the hair.
  • canker sores.
  • change in taste.
  • dry eyes.
  • dry skin.
  • itching, pain, redness, swelling, tenderness, or warmth on the skin.
  • loosening of the fingernails.
  • loss of taste.

When should I take trametinib?

Trametinib comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. Take trametinib at around the same time every day.

Is dabrafenib and trametinib chemotherapy?

Dabrafenib is the generic name for the trade name chemotherapy drug Tafinlar. In some cases, health care professionals may use the trade name Tafinlar when referring to the generic drug dabrafenib. Drug type: Dabrafenib is a targeted therapy.

How effective is dabrafenib and trametinib?

Overall, 162 patients (59.8%) were BRAFi naive and 171 (63.1%) received first-line dabrafenib plus trametinib. Among BRAFi-naive patients, the overall response rate (ORR) was 67.3%, median OS (mOS) was 20.0 months, and median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 7.5 months.

What are the side effects of dabrafenib and trametinib?

Common side effects

  • High temperatures. This treatment can cause high temperatures.
  • Feeling tired. Feeling tired is a common side effect of this treatment.
  • Feeling sick.
  • Bleeding.
  • Swelling of nasal passages and back of throat.
  • Diarrhoea.
  • Constipation.
  • Headache and dizziness.

Does trametinib cause weight gain?

Trametinib may cause heart problems, including heart failure. Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain, decreased urine output, an uneven heartbeat, swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs, troubled breathing, or rapid weight gain while using trametinib.

Is trametinib FDA approved?

FDA approves dabrafenib plus trametinib for adjuvant treatment of melanoma with BRAF V600E or V600K mutations. On April 30, 2018, the Food and Drug Administration granted regular approval to dabrafenib (TAFINLAR, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.) and trametinib (MEKINIST, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.)

What class of drug is trametinib?

Trametinib is in a class of medications called kinase inhibitors. It works by blocking the action of an abnormal protein that signals cancer cells to multiply. This helps stop the spread of cancer cells.

What is the role of trametinib in the treatment of melanoma?

Trametinib as monotherapy or in combination with dabrafenib is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAF V600 mutation (see sections 4.4 and 5.1). Trametinib monotherapy has not demonstrated clinical activity in patients who have progressed on a prior BRAF inhibitor therapy (see section 5.1).

What is the recommended dose of trametinib for patients with BRAF V600?

Before taking trametinib, patients must have confirmation of BRAF V600 mutation using a validated test. The recommended dose of trametinib, either used as monotherapy or in combination with dabrafenib, is 2 mg once daily. The recommended dose of dabrafenib, when used in combination with trametinib, is 150 mg twice daily.

What is the sodium content of trametinib?

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’. As trametinib is metabolised predominantly via deacetylation mediated by hydrolytic enzymes (e.g. carboxyl-esterases), its pharmacokinetics are unlikely to be affected by other agents through metabolic interactions (see section 5.2).

What are the contraindications for trametinib?

Trametinib should be used with caution in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment when administered as monotherapy or in combination with dabrafenib. The safety and efficacy of trametinib in non-Caucasian patients have not been established.

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