Cited by 254Melanoma and MAPK PathwaysPI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in cancerProtein Kinase Regulation and GTPase Signaling

Intermittent Administration of MEK Inhibitor GDC-0973 plus PI3K Inhibitor GDC-0941 Triggers Robust Apoptosis and Tumor Growth Inhibition

Hoeflich, Klaus P., Merchant, Mark, Orr, Christine, Chan, Jocelyn, Den Otter, Doug, Berry, Leanne, Kasman, Ian, Koeppen, Hartmut +6 more·2012·Cancer Research

Published version of a preprint

Abstract

Combinations of MAP/ERK kinase (MEK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors have shown promise in preclinical cancer models, leading to the initiation of clinical trials cotargeting these two key cancer signaling pathways. GDC-0973, a novel selective MEK inhibitor, and GDC-0941, a class I PI3K inhibitor, are in early stage clinical trials as both single agents and in combination. The discovery of these selective inhibitors has allowed investigation into the precise effects of combining inhibitors of two major signaling branches downstream of RAS. Here, we investigated multiple biomarkers in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and PI3K pathway to search for points of convergence that explain the increased apoptosis seen in combination. Using washout studies in vitro and alternate dosing schedules in mice, we showed that intermittent inhibition of the PI3K and MAPK pathway is sufficient for efficacy in BRAF and KRAS mutant cancer cells. The combination of GDC-0973 with the PI3K inhibitor GDC-0941 resulted in combination efficacy in vitro and in vivo via induction of biomarkers associated with apoptosis, including Bcl-2 family proapoptotic regulators. Therefore, these data suggest that continuous exposure of MEK and PI3K inhibitors in combination is not required for efficacy in preclinical cancer models and that sustained effects on downstream apoptosis biomarkers can be observed in response to intermittent dosing. Cancer Res; 72(1); 210–9. ©2011 AACR.

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Crossref · 10.1158/0008-5472.can-11-1515

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  • RAF inhibitors, MEK inhibitors, and ERK inhibitors can be used in combinations with other inhibitors to indirectly target mutant-RAS due to the failures of monotherapies.

    “As a consequence, RAF inhibitors, MEK inhibitors and ERK inhibitors can be used in combinations with other inhibitors to indirectly target mutant-RAS due to the failures of monotherapies.618,619”

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Authors
Hoeflich, K. P., Merchant, M., Orr, C., Chan, J., Den Otter, D., Berry, L., Kasman, I., Koeppen, H., Rice, K., Yang, N.-Y., Engst, S., Johnston, S., Friedman, L. S., & Belvin, M.
Affiliations
  • Exelixis (United States) (US)
  • Authors' Affiliations: 1Genentech, Inc. and 2Exelixis, Inc., South San Francisco, California
Venue
Cancer Research
Published
2012-01-01
Volume
72
Issue
1
Pages
210-219
ISSN
  • 0008-5472 (ISSN-L)
  • 1538-7445
OpenAlex
W2165280661
Cited by
242
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 28 · 2012: 16
FWCI
8.95
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Cancer Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Melanoma and MAPK Pathways
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in cancer
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Protein Kinase Regulation and GTPase Signaling
Keywords
GDC-0941, MEK inhibitors, PI3K inhibitors, combination therapy, intermittent dosing, apoptosis, MAPK signaling, PI3K signaling, Ras signaling, BRAF-mutant cancers, KRAS-mutant cancer, Bcl-2 family proteins, tumor growth inhibition
MeSH terms
Animals, Antineoplastic Agents, Cell Division, Cell Line, Humans, Indazoles, Sulfonamides, Blotting, Western, Apoptosis, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases, Protein Kinase Inhibitors, Mice

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