Advances in targeting the Ras/Raf/MEK/Erk mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade with MEK inhibitors for cancer therapy

Bret B. Friday, Alex A. Adjei

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

297 Scopus citations

Abstract

The identification of intracellular signaling cascades important for the growth and survival of cancer cells has led to the development of targeted cancer therapeutics aimed at blocking these signals. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway has a well-defined role in cancer biology and has been an important target in the development of targeted therapies. Recently, several small-molecule inhibitors of MAPK/extracellular signal - regulated kinase kinase (MEK), a key intermediary of MAPK signaling, have been developed and are currently being tested in clinical trials. Herein, we review the MAPK pathway, the development of small-molecule MEK inhibitors, and the results obtained to date with MEK inhibitors in human cancer trials.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)342-346
Number of pages5
JournalClinical Cancer Research
Volume14
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 15 2008

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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