BRAFV600E-Mutant Melanoma Presenting With Cardiac Involvement

Melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer with historically limited treatment options. Approximately 50% of melanomas harbor BRAFV600 mutations. This report describes a 32-year-old man with metastatic BRAFV600-mutant melanoma who presented with cardiac involvement. Recently developed treatment options for patients with BRAF-mutant melanoma include BRAF inhibitors (vemurafenib, dabrafenib), MEK inhibitors (trametinib), and immune-based therapeutics (interleukin 2 or ipilimumab), but the most effective strategy for first-line therapy is heavily debated. Opinions vary for treatment selection, but the general consensus recommends immune-based therapies initially for asymptomatic patients with low-volume disease, and BRAF inhibitors for those with highly symptomatic or rapidly progressing disease. In this case, melanoma with cardiac involvement, although clinically uncommon, presents challenging management decisions.

Target Audience

This activity has been designated to meet the educational needs of physicians and nurses involved in the management of patients with cancer.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

  • Evaluate immune-based therapies and BRAF inhibitors for patients with melanoma
  • Outline the challenges of cardiac involvement for patients with metastatic melanoma
Additional information
Supporters: 

No commercial support was received for this article.

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 Participation
  • 1.00 Nurse
  • 1.00 Physician
Course opens: 
05/09/2014
Course expires: 
05/09/2015
Cost:
$0.00

Douglas B. Johnson, MD
Department of Hematology/Oncology
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee

Jeffrey A. Sosman, MD
Department of Hematology/Oncology
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee

Available Credit

  • 1.00 Participation
  • 1.00 Nurse
  • 1.00 Physician

Price

Cost:
$0.00
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Required Hardware/software

To access this activity, users will need:

  • A device with an Internet connection
  • Adobe Reader or other PDF reader software for article and certificate viewing/printing