BRAF Mutation Question
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BRAF Mutation Question

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › BRAF Mutation Question

  • Post
    • May 31, 2011 at 7:04 pm
    washoegal
    Participant

    I am one of the "lucky" ones  with the BRAF mutation or so says my ONC.  Anyway my question for some of the more well studied in this group, if you have a gene mutation does that mean it effects you no matter you status (ie NED).  Specifically, is that Gene mutated within your body not just a Melanoma  Tumor?  What got me wondering was when my Onc suggested I have my regular cancer screenings Breast, Colon, etc more frequently.  Then I started reading the BRAF shows in Colon, non small lung, etc.  What I know about genes I can fill on about two l

    I am one of the "lucky" ones  with the BRAF mutation or so says my ONC.  Anyway my question for some of the more well studied in this group, if you have a gene mutation does that mean it effects you no matter you status (ie NED).  Specifically, is that Gene mutated within your body not just a Melanoma  Tumor?  What got me wondering was when my Onc suggested I have my regular cancer screenings Breast, Colon, etc more frequently.  Then I started reading the BRAF shows in Colon, non small lung, etc.  What I know about genes I can fill on about two lines.

    Thanks,

    Mary

Viewing 3 reply threads
  • Replies
      • May 31, 2011 at 8:10 pm
      MichaelFL
      Participant

      Very good question.

      Yes, you are correct, the BRAF gene is mutated within the body, and can even be inherited as well. Or, the mutation can also appear as we age and cause cancer as what is called a acquired mutations or oncogene, which is a gene that has the potential to cause cancer. In tumor cells, they are often mutated or expressed at high levels.

      Many abnormal cells normally undergo a programmed form of death (apoptosis). Activated oncogenes can cause those cells to survive and proliferate instead. Most oncogenes require an additional step, such as mutations in another gene, or environmental factors, such as viral infection, to cause cancer. Since the 1970s, dozens of oncogenes have been identified in human cancer. Many cancer drugs such as PLX4032 (also known as vemurafenib, RG7204 or RO5185426) target those DNA sequences.

      Michael

        • May 31, 2011 at 11:13 pm
        washoegal
        Participant

        Michael, so am I interpreting my Mel Onc statements correctly, that he wants my other screenings more frequently than would otherwise be indicated for my age, etc.  because of the BRAF mutation. That's something I hadn't considered.  Yeah, I get to support more docs! wink

        Thanks Micheal.

        • May 31, 2011 at 11:26 pm
        dawn dion
        Participant

        This is a interesting thread – I am BRAF positive – again my onc was over the moon about it.  But the whole thing was never presented to me this way.

        • May 31, 2011 at 11:26 pm
        dawn dion
        Participant

        This is a interesting thread – I am BRAF positive – again my onc was over the moon about it.  But the whole thing was never presented to me this way.

        • June 1, 2011 at 12:33 am
        MichaelFL
        Participant

        Yes, I think you are interpreting your oncologists statements correctly as BRAF is expressed in other cancers as well such as thyroid, colorectal, ovarian and more. BUT that does not mean someone will get another type of cancer.

        Michael

        • June 1, 2011 at 12:48 am
        MichaelFL
        Participant

        After thinking further, let me rephrase as I do not want to cause anyone undue concern. In doctor speak, the chances of having two different cancers are "highly unlikely".

        Michael

        • June 1, 2011 at 12:48 am
        MichaelFL
        Participant

        After thinking further, let me rephrase as I do not want to cause anyone undue concern. In doctor speak, the chances of having two different cancers are "highly unlikely".

        Michael

        • June 1, 2011 at 12:33 am
        MichaelFL
        Participant

        Yes, I think you are interpreting your oncologists statements correctly as BRAF is expressed in other cancers as well such as thyroid, colorectal, ovarian and more. BUT that does not mean someone will get another type of cancer.

        Michael

        • May 31, 2011 at 11:13 pm
        washoegal
        Participant

        Michael, so am I interpreting my Mel Onc statements correctly, that he wants my other screenings more frequently than would otherwise be indicated for my age, etc.  because of the BRAF mutation. That's something I hadn't considered.  Yeah, I get to support more docs! wink

        Thanks Micheal.

        • March 21, 2018 at 10:05 pm
        Jlwood
        Participant

        I also have the BRAF mutation in my stage 3 C cancer. Does that mean if you have this gene that it’s not a matter of “if” it will come back but more a matter or “where” it will come back?

      • May 31, 2011 at 8:10 pm
      MichaelFL
      Participant

      Very good question.

      Yes, you are correct, the BRAF gene is mutated within the body, and can even be inherited as well. Or, the mutation can also appear as we age and cause cancer as what is called a acquired mutations or oncogene, which is a gene that has the potential to cause cancer. In tumor cells, they are often mutated or expressed at high levels.

      Many abnormal cells normally undergo a programmed form of death (apoptosis). Activated oncogenes can cause those cells to survive and proliferate instead. Most oncogenes require an additional step, such as mutations in another gene, or environmental factors, such as viral infection, to cause cancer. Since the 1970s, dozens of oncogenes have been identified in human cancer. Many cancer drugs such as PLX4032 (also known as vemurafenib, RG7204 or RO5185426) target those DNA sequences.

      Michael

      • June 1, 2011 at 12:41 am
      nicoli
      Participant

      I have not been Braf tested nor do I know much about it.

      But one question:  are there more and better medicines for Braf positives than for "regular" melanoma?

       Are the survival rates better for Braf positives?

      Nicki, Stage 3b, scalp

        • June 1, 2011 at 1:06 am
        MichaelFL
        Participant

        Another hard question. 

        About 60% of melanomas contain a mutation in the B-RAF gene

        Depending on which study one reads, the BRAF drugs such as plx-4032 (RG7204) offer a good response rate, but the problem is that the melanoma eventually finds a way around the drug through another pathway or pathways and begins to grow again, thus the response is not long lasting.

        In one study: 32 patients with melanoma, all with the BRAF V600E mutation were
        given 960 mg of PLX4032 twice daily; 26 had a response. The median survival without the melanoma progressing was estimated to be more than 7 months and the estimated median overall survival had not been reached by the time of the study report.

        Michael

        • June 1, 2011 at 1:19 am
        nicoli
        Participant

        So here we go with "median" again.

        Just like the article in hotelmelanoma. Do most cancer statistics use "median",  cuz that's just not right.

        And by the way, I do know what median means! Actually passed college stats!

        Nicki, Stage 3b, scalp

        • June 1, 2011 at 1:19 am
        nicoli
        Participant

        So here we go with "median" again.

        Just like the article in hotelmelanoma. Do most cancer statistics use "median",  cuz that's just not right.

        And by the way, I do know what median means! Actually passed college stats!

        Nicki, Stage 3b, scalp

        • June 1, 2011 at 1:06 am
        MichaelFL
        Participant

        Another hard question. 

        About 60% of melanomas contain a mutation in the B-RAF gene

        Depending on which study one reads, the BRAF drugs such as plx-4032 (RG7204) offer a good response rate, but the problem is that the melanoma eventually finds a way around the drug through another pathway or pathways and begins to grow again, thus the response is not long lasting.

        In one study: 32 patients with melanoma, all with the BRAF V600E mutation were
        given 960 mg of PLX4032 twice daily; 26 had a response. The median survival without the melanoma progressing was estimated to be more than 7 months and the estimated median overall survival had not been reached by the time of the study report.

        Michael

      • June 1, 2011 at 12:41 am
      nicoli
      Participant

      I have not been Braf tested nor do I know much about it.

      But one question:  are there more and better medicines for Braf positives than for "regular" melanoma?

       Are the survival rates better for Braf positives?

      Nicki, Stage 3b, scalp

Viewing 3 reply threads
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