Tafinlar (Dabrafenib) for Lung Cancer

Overview
Tafinlar is a brand name for the drug Dabrafenib, which is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of individuals with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with the BRAF V600E mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test. Tafinlar is often used in combination with the drug trametinib for this purpose. The treatment is specifically indicated for individuals with metastatic disease, meaning the cancer has spread beyond the lungs. Tafinlar is also known by its generic name, dabrafenib.

Tafinlar is a kinase inhibitor, a type of drug that targets specific enzymes (proteins) called kinases, which play a crucial role in cancer cell growth and survival. In the case of NSCLC with the BRAF V600E mutation, Tafinlar works by blocking the abnormal BRAF protein kinase, which helps slow down or stop the growth of cancer cells.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Tafinlar is administered orally in capsule form. The standard dosing schedule for adults is twice daily. It should be taken at least one hour before or at least two hours after a meal. Tafinlar should be taken exactly as prescribed by a health care provider. 

Side effects
Common side effects of Tafinlar as a monotherapy (stand-alone therapy) include hyperkeratosis (thickening of the outer layer of the skin), headache, pyrexia (fever), arthralgia (joint pain), papilloma (skin lesions), alopecia (hair loss), and palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (hand-foot syndrome).

When Tafinlar is used in combination with trametinib for NSCLC, common side effects include pyrexia, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dry skin, decreased appetite, edema (swelling), rash, chills, hemorrhage (bleeding), cough, and dyspnea (difficulty breathing).

Rare but serious side effects may include new primary malignancies (new cancers), cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease), severe hemorrhage (severe bleeding), uveitis (eye inflammation), severe skin toxicities, hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels), hemolytic anemia (red blood cell destruction) in individuals with G6PD deficiency, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (a severe immune reaction), and embryo-fetal toxicity (harm to an embryo, fetus, or unborn child). 

For more information about this treatment, visit:
Label: Tafinlar — Dabrafenib Capsule — DailyMed

Tafinlar — Drugs.com