MEK162

Background: Aberrant activation of RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling pathway has been implicated in more than one-third of all malignancies. MEK inhibitors are promising therapeutic approaches to target this signaling pathway. Though four MEK inhibitors have been approved by FDA, these compounds possess either limited efficacy or unfavorable PK profiles with toxicity issues, hindering their broadly application in clinic. Our efforts were focused on the design and development of a novel MEK inhibitor, which subsequently led to the discovery of tunlametinib...

INTRODUCTION: Activating RAS gene mutations occur in approximately 55% of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and are associated with poorer clinical outcomes due to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) blockade resistance. Combined EGFR and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibition may extend response to EGFR inhibition and overcome acquired resistance. This phase Ib/II dose escalation trial evaluated the safety and activity of dual inhibition with binimetinib (MEK1/2 inhibitor) and panitumumab (EGFR inhibitor [EGFRi]) in patients with RAS mutant or BRAF wild type (WT)/RAS WT mCRC...

OBJECTIVE: Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent type of regulated cell death triggered by the toxic buildup of lipid peroxides on cell membranes. Nonetheless, the implication of ferroptosis in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which is the most aggressive subtype of breast carcinoma, remains unexplored. METHODS: Three TNBC cohorts-TCGA-TNBC, GSE58812, and METABRIC-were adopted. Consensus molecular subtyping on prognostic ferroptosis-related genes was implemented across TNBC...

The MAPK/ERK signaling pathway regulates cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation, angiogenesis, metastasis and drug resistance. Mutations and up-regulation of components of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway, as well as over-activation of this critical signaling pathway, are frequently observed in colorectal carcinomas. Targeting the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway, using specific pharmacological inhibitors, elicits potent anti-tumor effects, supporting the therapeutic potential of these inhibitors in the treatment of CRC...

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is one of the most commonly activated pathways in human cancers, including lung cancer. Targeting mTOR with molecule inhibitors is considered as a useful therapeutic strategy. However, the results obtained from the clinical trials with the inhibitors so far have not met the original expectations, largely because of the drug resistance. Thus, combined or multiple drug therapy can bring about more favorable clinical outcomes. Here, we found that activation of ERK pathway was responsible for rapamycin drug resistance in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells...

BACKGROUND: Molecular targeted therapy for non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is restricted due to resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). This study evaluated the effects of dual targeting of MEK and PI3K in human EGFR-TKI resistant NSCLC cell lines. METHODS: EGFR-TKI resistant NSCLC cell lines H1975, H460, and A549, with different mutation and amplification status in EGFR, K-RAS, PIK3CA, and MET genes, were treated with a MEK162 (MEK inhibitor) and BKM120 (PI3K inhibitor) combination or a BIBW2992 (EGFR inhibitor) and ARQ197 (MET inhibitor) combination and assayed for cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle distribution...

Breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a non-obligate precursor of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). It is still unclear which DCIS will become invasive and which will remain indolent. Patients often receive surgery and radiotherapy, but this early intervention has not produced substantial decreases in late-stage disease. Sprouty proteins are important regulators of ERK/MAPK signaling and have been studied in various cancers. We hypothesized that Sprouty4 is an endogenous inhibitor of ERK/MAPK signaling and that its loss/reduced expression is a mechanism by which DCIS lesions progress toward IDC, including triple-negative disease...

IL‑1 promotes cancer cell proliferation and invasiveness in various malignancies, such as breast and colorectal cancer. In the present study, the functional roles of IL‑1β (IL1B) and the inhibitory effect of celastrol on IL1B expression were investigated in triple‑negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. The data revealed that celastrol markedly decreased IL1B expression and suppressed TNBC cell proliferation in a dose‑dependent manner. The levels of IL1B and IL8 mRNA were significantly increased in TNBC cells compared with non‑TNBC cells...

Phosphoinositide-3 kinase alpha-specific inhibitors (PI3Kαi) displayed promising potential for the treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) with frequent activation in PI3K signaling. However, acquired resistance is likely to develop and limit the efficacy of PI3Kαi like other targeted therapies. To identify genomic adaptation to PI3Kαi, we applied whole-genome sequencing and detected gene mutation and amplification in four lines of ESCC cells established with adapted resistance to a novel PI3Kαi CYH33...

Neurocutaneous melanosis (NCM; MIM # 249400; ORPHA: 2481], first reported by the Bohemian pathologist Rokitansky in 1861, and now more precisely defined as neurocutaneous melanocytosis, is a rare, congenital syndrome characterised by the association of (1) congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) of the skin with overlying hypertrichosis, presenting as (a) large (LCMN) or giant and/or multiple (MCMN) melanocytic lesions (or both; sometimes associated with smaller "satellite" nevi) or (b) as proliferative melanocytic nodules; and (2) melanocytosis (with infiltration) of the brain parenchyma and/or leptomeninges...

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathwayis among the key factors in numerous cellular processes involved in tumorigenesis, suggesting it as a potential therapeutic target in gynecological cancer. MAPKs connect gene expression pathways and external stimulations. They include a network consist of Ras, Raf or MAP3K, MEK or MAP2K, ERK or MAPK. Among these,MEK is an attractive molecular target of novel cancer therapeutics as it joints upstream activators and their corresponding downstream targets.MEK inhibitors were among thefirst inhibitors of the MAPK pathway enteringinto clinical trials...

BACKGROUND: BRAF/MEK inhibitor combinations are established treatments for BRAF V600-mutant melanoma based on demonstrated benefits on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Here, we report an updated analysis of the COLUMBUS (COmbined LGX818 [encorafenib] Used with MEK162 [binimetinib] in BRAF mutant Unresectable Skin cancer) trial with long-term follow-up. METHODS: In part 1 of the COLUMBUS trial, 577 patients with advanced/metastatic BRAF V600-mutant melanoma, untreated or progressed after first-line immunotherapy, were randomised 1:1:1 to 450 mg of encorafenib QD + 45 mg of binimetinib BID (COMBO450) vs 960 mg of vemurafenib BID (VEM) or 300 mg of encorafenib ENCO QD (ENCO300)...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive subtype of malignant gliomas, with an average survival rate of 15 months after diagnosis. More than 90% of all GBMs have activating mutations in the MAPK/ERK pathway. Recently, we showed the allosteric MEK1/2 inhibitor binimetinib (MEK162) to inhibit cell proliferation and to enhance the effect of radiation in preclinical human GBM models. Because the free drug cannot pass the blood-brain barrier (BBB), we investigated the use of nanocarriers for transport of the drug through the BBB and its efficacy when combined with radiotherapy and temozolomide (TMZ) in glioma spheroids...

LESSONS LEARNED: The combination of pexidartinib and binimetinib was safe and tolerable and demonstrated encouraging signs of efficacy in two patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) refractory to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).Molecular profiling of GISTs at diagnosis and upon progression may provide insight into the mechanisms of response or resistance to targeted therapies.Additional trials are needed to further explore combined KIT and MEK inhibition in treatment-naïve and TKI-refractory patients with advanced GIST...

BRAF and RAS are the most frequently mutated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) genes in melanoma. Binimetinib is a highly selective MAPK kinase (MEK) 1/2 inhibitor with clinical antitumor activity in NRAS - and BRAF V600 -mutant melanoma. We performed a nonrandomized, open-label phase II study, where 183 metastatic melanoma patients received binimetinib 45 mg / 60 mg twice-daily ( BRAF arms), or binimetinib 45 mg twice-daily ( NRAS arm). Biomarker analyses were prespecified as secondary and exploratory objectives...

BACKGROUND: Relapsed and refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) continues to be a therapeutic challenge with poor outcomes. Dysregulation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase/extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) pathway frequently occurs in AML and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Preclinical studies and early-phase trials have shown promise for MAP-ERK kinase (MEK) inhibition in AML. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of the MEK 1/2 inhibitor binimetinib in advanced myeloid malignancies...

To improve our understanding of ovarian cancer, we performed genome-wide analyses of 45 ovarian cancer cell lines. Given the challenges of genomic analyses of tumors without matched normal samples, we developed approaches for detection of somatic sequence and structural changes and integrated these with epigenetic and expression alterations. Alterations not previously implicated in ovarian cancer included amplification or overexpression of ASXL1 and H3F3B, deletion or underexpression of CDC73 and TGF-beta receptor pathway members, and rearrangements of YAP1-MAML2 and IKZF2-ERBB4...

BACKGROUND: The RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway is one of the most downregulated pathway in cancer. Inhibitors of RAF and MEK have established clinical use while ERK inhibitors recently faced the clinic. We aimed to generate resistant cell lines which could be helpful for defining new combinations able to overcome resistance. METHODS: the human NSCLC cell line NCI-H727, sensitive to both MEK and ERK inhibitors, was treated with increasing concentrations of MEK162 (as MEK inhibitor) or SCH772984 as ERK inhibitor...

Molecular subtypes of colorectal tumors are associated with prognosis and prediction for treatment benefit from chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was two-fold: 1) to determine the association of colorectal (CRC) molecular subtypes with response to targeted therapies in pre-clinical models and 2) to identify treatments for CRC stem-like subtype because these tumors are associated with a very poor patient prognosis. Eleven CRC cell lines were classified into molecular subtypes and tested for their response to pan-ERBB, MEK, and ERK inhibitors as single agents and in combination...

BACKGROUND: The irinotecan-induced phosphokinome changes in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells were used to guide the selection of targeted agents to be tested in combination with irinotecan. METHODS: Phosphokinome profiling with peptide arrays of tumour samples from nude mice xenografted with HT29 cells and treated or not with an effective dose of irinotecan was used to identify signalling pathways activated by irinotecan treatment. Then, drugs targeting these pathways were combined in vitro with irinotecan to test potential synergistic effect...