Half of melanoma patients have V6003 BRAF mutation in their tumour. Last year preliminary results showed that patients treated with vemurafenib had an increased response and survival.

Dr Paul Chapman talks to ecancer at the ASCO 2012 Annual Meeting about extended follow up results for treatment with vemurafenib.

After preliminary results the FDA approved treatment only in melanoma cases with V6003 BRAF mutation as tumours without this mutation encounter accelerated growth if treated with vemurafenib.

Currently, ipilimumab is the only other option for treatment in these cases. Moving forward doctors must now understand the genetics of the tumour prior to treatment.