Definition

An orally bioavailable inhibitor of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 (ERK1) and 2 (ERK2), with potential antineoplastic activity. Upon oral administration, ERK1/2 inhibitor ATG-017 specifically targets, binds to and inhibits the activity of the serine/threonine-protein kinases ERK1 and ERK2, thereby preventing the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 substrates and the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/ERK-mediated signal transduction pathways. This results in the inhibition of ERK-dependent proliferation and survival of tumor cells. The MAPK/ERK pathway, also known as the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway, is hyperactivated in a variety of tumor cell types due to mutations in upstream targets. It plays a key role in the proliferation, differentiation and survival of tumor cells.