The role of mitogen-activated ERK-kinase inhibitors in lung cancer therapy

Clin Lung Cancer. 2005 Nov;7(3):221-3. doi: 10.3816/CLC.2005.n.040.

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.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Benzamides / therapeutic use
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics
  • Diphenylamine / analogs & derivatives
  • Diphenylamine / therapeutic use
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Genes, ras
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / physiology
  • Mutation
  • Signal Transduction
  • raf Kinases / genetics
  • ras Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Benzamides
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • mirdametinib
  • Diphenylamine
  • raf Kinases
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • ras Proteins