Biochem/Physiol
Actions | Selumetinib is an orally active, small molecule with potential antineoplastic activity. Selumetinib is an ATP-independent inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK or MAPK/ERK kinase) 1 and 2. MEK 1 and 2 are dual specificity kinases that are essential mediators in the activation of the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway, are often upregulated in various cancer cells, and are drivers of diverse cellular responses, including proliferation. Inhibition of both MEK1 and 2 by selumetinib prevents the activation of MEK1/2 dependent effector proteins and transcription factors, thereby leading to an inhibition of cellular proliferation in various cancers. Selumetinib (AZD6244) is a potent, highly selective MEK inhibitor with IC50 of 14 nM for MEK1 and Kd value of 530 nM for MEK2. It also inhibits ERK1/2 phosphorylation with IC50 of 10 nM, no inhibition to p38α, MKK6, EGFR, ErbB2, ERK2, B-Raf, etc. |