Extended 73-month survival in an elderly patient with BRAF V600E-mutated lung adenocarcinoma: A case report

BRAF is a mediator that activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. A mutation in BRAF can cause abnormal pathway activation, leading to cell proliferation. In a Phase II study, the combination therapy of the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib and the MEK inhibitor trametinib was found to be effective in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with the BRAF mutation. However, this study has limited efficacy and safety data for elderly patients. We present a case of a patient who started treatment at 87 years old and showed a good prognosis, remaining alive 73 months from the start of treatment with no significant adverse events. The patient also maintained a partial response (PR) according to RECIST 1.1 at the last follow-up. This case suggests that the dabrafenib and trametinib combination therapy is safe and effective for elderly NSCLC patients with the BRAF mutation.