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Josep Tabernero

Colorectal cancer trialist who led BEACON and BREAKWATER, bringing targeted therapy to BRAF-mutant disease; former ESMO President.

Josep Tabernero directs VHIO and led BEACON CRC (encorafenib plus cetuximab) and BREAKWATER, which established first-line targeted therapy for BRAF V600E colorectal cancer. He was ESMO President in 2018-2019.

Role
Director, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO); Head of Medical Oncology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital
Specialisms
Colorectal cancerGastrointestinal oncologyEarly drug developmentPrecision medicine
Profiles

Papers

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TitleJournalYear
Encorafenib, binimetinib, and cetuximab in BRAF V600E-mutated colorectal cancer (BEACON)NEJM2019
Encorafenib, cetuximab, and mFOLFOX6 in BRAF-mutated colorectal cancer (BREAKWATER)NEJM2025

Key papers

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rctNew England Journal of Medicine 2025changed practice
BREAKWATER: encorafenib plus cetuximab with chemotherapy as first treatment for BRAF V600E-mutated colorectal cancer

Patients with newly diagnosed metastatic colorectal cancer whose tumour carries a BRAF V600E mutation, which is about 8-12% of cases, should now be offered encorafenib and cetuximab together with FOLFOX from the start rather than after chemotherapy fails; median survival has roughly doubled to about two and a half years. BRAF testing at diagnosis is therefore essential, alongside RAS and mismatch repair testing. The regimen is more toxic than chemotherapy alone.

Connected

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cancers

1
Colorectal cancer

targets

2
BRAFEGFR

drugs

2
ApprovedMonoclonal antibody (anti-EGFR)
Cetuximab · Erbitux
ApprovedSmall-molecule kinase inhibitor (BRAF)
Encorafenib · Braftovi

institutions

2
European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)Vall d'Hebron University Hospital / VHIO

trials

1
BREAKWATER

key papers

1
BREAKWATER: encorafenib plus cetuximab with chemotherapy as first treatment for BRAF V600E-mutated colorectal cancer