About BRAF

About 10% of stage iv colorectal cancers carry a mutation in the BRAF (pronounced “Bee-Raff”) gene. The BRAF protein is part of a communication route, or signaling pathway, in cells that is necessary for their growth and survival. In colorectal cancer, the V600E mutation in the BRAF gene causes the protein to be overly active, leading to uncontrolled cell growth and driving the development of cancer. 

COLONTOWN’s Doc Talks series includes several videos looking at current options and research for BRAF-mutated CRC. Some of the information in these videos include unpublished data from clinical trials that are currently ongoing as of spring, 2021; while this data has been presented at research meetings, it has not yet been formally published.

The illustration below, from the National Cancer Institute, shows how the BEACON clinical trial tested targeted therapies in combination for BRAF patients.