Current Development Status of MEK Inhibitors

Molecules. 2017 Sep 26;22(10):1551. doi: 10.3390/molecules22101551.

Abstract

The current development status of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitors, including the preclinical data and clinical study progress, has been summarized in this review. Different MEK inhibitors, possessing specific physicochemical properties and bioactivity characteristics, may provide different options for patients seeking treatment for cancer. Moreover, the combination of the MEK inhibitors with other therapies-such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy-may be a promising approach for clinical use.

Keywords: MEK inhibitors; approved drug; clinical study; combination; preclinical study; targeted therapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Drug Discovery*
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • raf Kinases / metabolism
  • ras Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • raf Kinases
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
  • ras Proteins