Efficacy of solubilized vemurafenib administered via nasogastric tube.

Until only a few years ago, there was only one truly effective therapy for patients with metastatic melanoma. While long-term remission could be achieved in some patients, toxicities associated with high-dose IL-2 were significant. New insight related to molecular pathways of tumor cells indicated that an activating mutation of BRAF can be found in approximately 50-60% of all patients with melanoma. Proof-of-concept demonstrated in clinical trials of a drug targeting mutant BRAF led to the approval of vemurafenib by the US FDA in August 2011. Supplied in an oral dosage form, we provide an alternative method of administering vemurafenib in a patient unable to take anything by mouth.