Abstract
The Ras-Raf-MAPK pathway has been implicated in lung carcinogenesis and, potentially, the maintenance of the malignant phenotype in these tumors. Mutations in ras and B-raf genes have been described in lung cancer, representing one of the few examples of tandem mutations in a signaling cascade. As a result, numerous approaches to inhibiting this pathway in lung cancer have been explored in the past decade. The most promising approach to date appears to be the inhibition of mitogen-activated ERK kinase or MEK. In this review, the potential utility of MEK inhibitors in the therapy of lung cancer is discussed.
MeSH terms
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Benzamides / therapeutic use
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Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy*
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Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics
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Diphenylamine / analogs & derivatives
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Diphenylamine / therapeutic use
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Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
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Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
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Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
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Genes, ras
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Humans
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Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
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Lung Neoplasms / genetics
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MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects
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MAP Kinase Signaling System / physiology
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Mutation
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Signal Transduction
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raf Kinases / genetics
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ras Proteins / genetics
Substances
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Benzamides
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Enzyme Inhibitors
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mirdametinib
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Diphenylamine
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raf Kinases
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Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
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ras Proteins