MEK inhibitor

A MEK inhibitor is a chemical or drug that inhibits MEK1 and/or MEK2 which are Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase enzymes.

They can be used to affect the MAPK/ERK pathway which is often overactive in some cancers. (See MAPK/ERK_pathway

Hence MEK inhibitors have potential for treatment of some cancers, especially BRAF-mutated melanoma, and KRAS/BRAF mutated colorectal cancer.

Some MEK inhibitors :
 * trametinib (GSK1120212), helps BRAF-mutated melanoma
 * selumetinib, had a phase 2 trial for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
 * MEK162 had phase 1 for biliary tract cancer and melanoma.
 * PD-325901, for Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer, And Melanoma
 * XL518, CI-1040, PD035901,