MEK inhibitors in oncology: a patent review (2015-Present)

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways have been identified as promising therapeutic targets for cancer therapy. Over-activation of these pathways and their components including gene mutations has been considered as one of the major causes of melanoma. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) is a downstream kinase of RAS pathway found in two different forms MEK1/2. The MEK inhibitors in combination with other kinase/mutant gene inhibitors have shown promising results in patients with metastatic melanoma.

Areas covered: A comprehensive review of the patent literature (2015 – Present) on MEK inhibitors, their combinations with other kinase inhibitors and structural insights has been highlighted.

Expert opinion: Recently mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitors have attracted considerable interest in oncology especially in melanoma. The MEK inhibitors showed promising results in patients with metastatic melanoma harboring mutant genes such as BRAF, KRAS. The MEK1/2 inhibitors in combination with BRAF, KRAS and/or PI3K inhibitors showed promising results in mutated colorectal, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, solid tumor, and relapsed/refractory melanoma. The combination delays the onset of acquired resistance, resulting in increased progression-free and overall survival. The combination and/or multi-targeted kinase/mutant gene inhibitors may be a therapeutic option for the personalized cancer treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

KEYWORDS:

• Cancer
• clinical trials
• inhibitors
• MEK
• melanoma
• mutation
• patent
• personalized medicine

Article highlights

• Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) is one of the potential therapeutic targets for cancer therapy in patients with mutated melanoma, colorectal, pancreatic adenocarcinoma and solid tumors.

• The MEK inhibitors showed promising results especially in patients with metastatic melanoma harboring mutant genes such as BRAF, KRAS etc.

• The MEK1/2 inhibitors in combination with BRAF, KRAS, and/or PI3K inhibitors showed improved clinical outcomes in various melanomas, KRAS mutated colorectal adenocarcinoma, metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumor, solid tumor, relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma and recurrent melanoma.

• Suitable combination and/or multi-targeted inhibitors may be therapeutic option for the personalized cancer treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma.

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Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This paper has not been funded.