1. Academic Validation
  2. Biological characterization of ARRY-142886 (AZD6244), a potent, highly selective mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/2 inhibitor

Biological characterization of ARRY-142886 (AZD6244), a potent, highly selective mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/2 inhibitor

  • Clin Cancer Res. 2007 Mar 1;13(5):1576-83. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-06-1150.
Tammie C Yeh 1 Vivienne Marsh Bryan A Bernat Josh Ballard Heidi Colwell Ron J Evans Janet Parry Darin Smith Barbara J Brandhuber Stefan Gross Allison Marlow Brian Hurley Joe Lyssikatos Patrice A Lee James D Winkler Kevin Koch Eli Wallace
Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 Array BioPharma, Inc., Boulder, Colorado 80301, USA. Tammie.Yeh@arraybiopharma.com
Abstract

Purpose: The Ras-Raf-mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) pathway is overactive in many human cancers and is thus a target for novel therapeutics. We have developed a highly potent and selective inhibitor of MEK1/2. The purpose of these studies has been to show the biological efficacy of ARRY-142886 (AZD6244) in enzymatic, cellular, and animal models.

Experimental design: The ability of ARRY-142886 to inhibit purified MEK1 as well as other kinases was evaluated. Its effects on extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation and proliferation in several cell lines were also determined. Finally, the inhibitor was tested in HT-29 (colorectal) and BxPC3 (pancreatic) xenograft tumor models.

Results: The IC(50) of ARRY-142886 was determined to be 14 nmol/L against purified MEK1. This activity is not competitive with ATP, which is consistent with the high specificity of compound for MEK1/2. Basal and epidermal growth factor-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation was inhibited in several cell lines as well as 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation in isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Treatment with ARRY-142886 resulted in the growth inhibition of several cell lines containing B-Raf and Ras mutations but had no effect on a normal fibroblast cell line. When dosed orally, ARRY-142886 was capable of inhibiting both ERK1/2 phosphorylation and growth of HT-29 xenograft tumors in nude mice. Tumor regressions were also seen in a BxPC3 xenograft model. In addition, tumors remained responsive to growth inhibition after a 7-day dosing holiday.

Conclusions: ARRY-142886 is a potent and selective MEK1/2 inhibitor that is highly active in both in vitro and in vivo tumor models. This compound is currently being investigated in clinical studies.

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