๐ฌIn plain words
What the trial is, and whether it could suit you
This phase II trial studies the effects of binimetinib and encorafenib in treating patients with melanoma that has spread to the central nervous system (metastases). Binimetinib and encorafenib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Giving binimetinib and encorafenib may help control melanoma that has spread to the brain.
Sign in to get the eligibility rules as simple questions to take to your doctor.
๐ Eligibility rules (as published)
Inclusion Criteria:
* Able to provide written informed consent.
* Age \>= 18 years at the time of informed consent
* Histologically confirmed diagnosis of melanoma
* Presence of BRAFV600 mutation in tumor tissue previously determined by a local assay (including immunohistochemistry \[IHC\]) at any time prior to Screening or during Screening
* Cohort A: BRAF V600 mutant melanoma patients with progressive central nervous system (CNS) metastases. This includes patients with parenchymal brain metastases and/or LMD
* Cohort A: Prior therapy with Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved BRAF inhibitors (+/- MEK inhibitors) is required
* No washout period is required
* Cohort A: Prior therapy with immunotherapy or other investigational agents is allowed
* Washout period of 14 days since last dose
* Cohort B: BRAF V600 mutant melanoma patients who are treatment naive to BRAF/MEK inhibitors with CNS metastases, including LMD. Prior treatment with immunotherapy is permitted
* For patients with parenchymal brain metastases (mets) without LMD
* Metastatic disease to the brain with at least 1 progressing parenchymal brain lesion \>= 0.5 cm and =\< 3 cm, defined as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast-enhancing lesion that may be accurately measured in at least 1 dimension
* For patients with LMD
* Patients must have investigator assessed radiographic and/or CSF cytological evidence of LMD
* Patients must have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of =\< 2
* Patients may receive steroids to control symptoms related to CNS involvement
* For patients with parenchymal brain metastases the dose must be =\< 2 mg per 24 hours of dexamethasone (or the equivalent). Patient's symptoms should experience stability of neurological symptoms for at least 7 days, or on tapering dose of steroids. Physiologic replacement doses for adrenal insufficiency is allowed on this protocol
* For patients with LMD: the dose must be =\< 4 mg per 24 hours of dexamethasone (or the equivalent). Physiologic replacement doses for adrenal insufficiency is allowed on this protocol
* Radiation therapy:
* For patients with parenchymal brain mets: prior radiation therapy, including stereotactic (SRS) or whole brain radiation (WBXRT) is allowed, but patient must be progressing in or having at least 1 new CNS lesion. Prior SBRT to extracranial lesions is allowed. Washout to prior radiation 14 days.
* For patients with LMD: Patients who have received radiation to brain and/or spine, including WBXRT, SRS, or SBRT, are eligible, but must have completed radiation treatment at least 7 days prior to the start of treatment.
* Prior therapy with systemic immunotherapy or other investigational agents is allowed
* Washout period of 14 days since last dose
* Other cancer directed treatment:
* Concurrent treatment with other anti-cancer systemic therapies is not allowed. No other concomitant intrathecal therapy with another agent will be allowed. For patients that have received other systemic therapies, the minimum wash out period is as follows:
* Patients that received previous intrathecal therapy must have received their last treatment \>= 7 days prior to the start of treatment
* Patients who have received systemic chemotherapy must have received their last treatment \>= 21 days prior to the start of treatment
Patients must have appropriate laboratory parameters as defined below:
* Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) 1.5 X 10\^9/L
* Hemoglobin 9.0 g/dL
* Platelets 75 X 10\^9/L
* Prothrombin time (PT)/international normalized ratio (INR) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) =\< 1.5 X upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Total bilirubin =\< 1.5 X ULN (isolated bilirubin \> 1.5 X ULN is acceptable if bilirubin is fractionated and direct bilirubin \< 35%)
* NOTE: Patients with documented Gilbert syndrome or hyperbilirubinemia due to non-hepatic cause (e.g., hemolysis, hematoma) may be enrolled following discussion and agreement with the primary investigator
* Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) โค2.5 X ULN, in patients with liver metastases โค5 X ULN
* Albumin โฅ2.5 g/dL
* Creatinine โค 1.5 X ULN OR calculated creatinine clearance โฅ50 mL/min OR 24-hour urine creatinine clearance โฅ50 mL/min
* Female patients of childbearing potential must have a negative serum and/or urine pregnancy test result
* Female patients of childbearing potential must agree to protocol-approved methods of contraception and to not donate ova from Screening until 30 days after the last dose of study drug. Male patients must agree to use methods of contraception that are highly effective or acceptable and to not donate sperm from Screening until 90 days after the last dose of study drug
* The patient is deemed by the Investigator to have the initiative and means to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plan and study procedures
Exclusion Criteria:
* Evidence of active infection =\< 7 days prior to initiation of study drug therapy (does not apply to viral infections that are presumed to be associated with the underlying tumor type required for study entry)
* Use of non-oncology vaccines containing live virus for prevention of infectious diseases within 30 days of prior to study drug. Dead virus vaccines (e.g Flu) are allowed, even during treatment with study drug
* Inability to swallow and retain study treatment
* Known history of testing positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or known acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) even if fully immunocompetent on antiretroviral therapy (ART)
* Impaired cardiovascular function or clinically significant cardiovascular disease including, but not limited to, the following:
* History of acute coronary syndromes (including myocardial infarction, unstable angina, coronary artery bypass grafting, coronary angioplasty or stenting) \< 6 months prior to screening
* Congestive heart failure requiring treatment (New York Heart Associa