Sprycel (dasatinib) is an attractive drug for use in melanoma because it affects mutations that re sometimes expressed in melanoma cells, A recent phase II study (Kluger et al) found that it had minimal activity in melanoma, except in patients with the C-KIT mutations. Thirty-nine patients were enrolled, 36 of whom were evaluable for activity and toxicity. Five, 4, and 3 patients had acral-lentiginous, ocular, or mucosal primaries, respectively. Two patients had confirmed partial responses lasting 64 and 24 weeks (RR 5%). One patient with an exon-13 c-kit mutation had a partial response, whereas disease in another patient with an exon-11 c-kit mutation progressed. The study suggests that identifying predictive biomarkers is important for future development of dasatinib in melanoma alone or in combination trials. There si an ongoing trial: Dasatinib in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Mucosal Melanoma, Acral Melanoma, or Vulvovaginal Melanoma That Cannot Be Removed By Surgery, NCT00700882

Kluger HM, Dudek AZ, McCann C, Ritacco J, Southard N, Jilaveanu LB, Molinaro A, Sznol M. A phase 2 trial of dasatinib in advanced melanoma. Cancer. 2011 May 15;117(10):2202-8.

BC. Bastian, Targeting Activated KIT Signaling for Melanoma Therapy

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