"I am looking for thoughts on what would be next to try – he is BRAF negative but does have the NRAS mutation. We have "heard" things like TVEC and chemo could be the next step. I am the one who does all the "research" for William and am terrifed I am missing the best opportunities for him. (We live on the East coast, but can travel for treatment.) Thank you in advance for anything you have to offer!!"
My boyfriend is also BRAF negative with an NRAS mutation. He is currently taking Trametinib, which is an MEK inhibitor. He is using it without the other drug they usually pair it with, since he does not have the BRAF mutation. According to his oncologist, Trametinib has been effective in keeping things at least "stable" in NRAS-positive patients until the next treatment begins. She is also planning on using T-VEC in combination with some form of chemo in the near future, since the IPI/NIVO regimen did not work for my boyfriend (it turns out his melanoma had little to no PDL1 expression to begin with). You might also want to look into a trial at Memorial Sloane Kettering for NRAS-positive melanoma patients. I think it is in phase 2 or 3 and they are still accepting patients. Not sure what the success rate has been but its worth checking out.
Hope this helps!
-Emily
