Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 2, 2025

Characterize Disease-related Mutants of RAF Family Kinases by Using a Set of Practical and Feasible Methods
07:49

Characterize Disease-related Mutants of RAF Family Kinases by Using a Set of Practical and Feasible Methods

Published on: July 17, 2019

6.1K

The Evolution of BRAF Activation in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Longyao Zhang1, Linpeng Zheng1, Qiao Yang2

  • 1Cancer Institute, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.

Frontiers in Oncology
|August 1, 2022
PubMed

Insights

BRAF alterations in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) present diverse therapeutic options, including targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Understanding BRAF

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most prevalent form of lung cancer.
  • Approximately 4% of NSCLC cases exhibit BRAF alterations, encompassing mutations, fusions, and rearrangements.
  • BRAF activation can be primary, driving cancer growth, or secondary, conferring resistance to therapies like EGFR-TKIs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current therapeutic strategies for BRAF-altered NSCLC.
  • To explore the biological phenotypes and treatment responses associated with different BRAF activation types.
  • To discuss the evolutionary pathways of BRAF alterations following treatment and suggest future research directions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on BRAF alterations in NSCLC.
  • Analysis of therapeutic modalities including targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
  • Examination of resistance mechanisms and post-therapeutic BRAF pathway evolution.

Main Results:

  • BRAF alterations in NSCLC include V600 and non-V600 mutations, fusions, rearrangements, and co-mutations.
  • Primary BRAF activation drives proliferation and metastasis, while secondary activation mediates resistance to targeted therapies.
  • Targeted therapy, particularly combination regimens, and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are potential treatment options.
  • BRAF activation may serve as a biomarker for response to ICIs.
  • Post-targeted therapy, BRAF evolution involves activation of upstream, downstream, and bypass pathways.

Conclusions:

  • BRAF alterations represent a significant subset of NSCLC with distinct therapeutic implications.
  • Diverse treatment options exist, but high-level evidence for prioritization is lacking.
  • Understanding BRAF pathway evolution post-therapy is crucial for overcoming resistance and improving outcomes.
  • Further research is needed to establish optimal therapeutic sequencing and management strategies for BRAF-altered NSCLC.
Keywords:
BRAF activationEGFR mutationacquired resistanceimmune checkpoint inhibitorsnon-small cell lung cancertargeted therapy

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