BRAF inhibitors are a class of targeted cancer therapies designed to block the activity of the BRAF protein, which is involved in cell growth and division. These inhibitors are particularly effective in treating certain types of cancer, such as melanoma, where mutations in the BRAF gene lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation. By inhibiting the BRAF protein, these drugs can slow down or stop the growth of cancer cells, improving patient outcomes. Commonly used BRAF inhibitors include vemurafenib and dabrafenib, which have shown significant benefits in clinical trials for patients with BRAF-mutant tumors.