New updates from the BREAKWATER study continue to transform care for BRAF V600E–mutant metastatic colorectal cancer, showing that moving targeted therapy with encorafenib and cetuximab into the frontline (combined with chemotherapy) more than doubles survival compared with historical approaches. The newly reported FOLFIRI backbone delivers similar efficacy to FOLFOX, offering a neuropathy-sparing alternative for patients at risk of long-term toxicity. Drs. Hornstein, Brown, and Grewal discuss how these regimens are becoming the new standard of care and how maintenance strategies can help balance durability with tolerability. Together, the data mark a major leap forward for one of colorectal cancer’s most aggressive molecular subtypes.
Contributors:
Dr. Nicholas Hornstein, MD, PhD, is a gastrointestinal medical oncologist and Assistant Professor Northwell Health.
Dr. Timothy Brown, MD, MSCE, is a gastrointestinal medical oncologist and Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern.
Dr. Udhayvir Grewal, MD, MBBS, is a gastrointestinal medical oncologist and Assistant Professor at Emory University School of Medicine.