RO5126766 (CH5126766) is a dual RAF/MEK inhibitor with IC50 of 8.2 nM, 19 nM, 56 nM, and 160 nM for BRAF V600E, BRAF, CRAF, and MEK1, respectively. Phase 1.

In HCT116 KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer cells, CH5126766 significantly reduces the levels of phospho-MEK and phospho-ERK. CH5126766 inhibits RAF kinase by binding to MEK1, and causes MEK to become a dominant negative inhibitor of RAF. [1] In Raf or RAS-mutant cell lines SK-MEL-28, SK-MEL-2, MIAPaCa-2, SW480, HCT116, and PC3 cells, CH5126766 inhibits cell growth with IC50 of 65, 28, 40, 46, and 277 nM, respectively. In two melanoma cell lines with the BRAF V600E or NRAS mutation, RO5126766 induces G1 cell cycle arrest accompanied by up-regulation of the CDK inhibitor p27 and down-regulation of cyclinD1. [3]

In an HCT116 (G13D KRAS) mouse xenograft model, CH5126766 (25 mg/kg, p.o.) inhibits ERK signaling output more effectively than a standard MEK inhibitor that induces MEK phosphorylation and has potent antitumor activity. [1] In the HCT116 (K-ras) and COLO205 (B-raf) mutant xenografts, CH5126766 (0.3 mg/kg) causes significant decreases in [18?F]FDG uptake. [2] In the SK-MEL-2 xenograft model, RO5126766 also suppresses the tumor growth. [3]

MEK and RAF kinase enzyme assays: The inhibitory activities against CRAF, BRAF, or BRAF V600E enzymes are measured by quantification of phosphorylation of inactive K97R MEK1 [MEK1] by recombinant RAF proteins [BRAF: B-RAF wt, BRAF V600E: B-RAF V600E or CRAF: Raf-1] with Europium-anti-MEK1/2 (pSer218/222) antibody and SureLight allophycocyanine-anti-6his antibody by measuring time-resolved fluorescence (TRF). Alternatively, the inhibitory activities against the RAF enzymes are measured by quantification of phosphorylation of a fluorescein-labeled peptide corresponding to human MEK1 212-224 and human MEK2 217-229 (5-Fl-SGQLIDSMANSFV-NH2, MEKtide) by using the IMAP fluorescence polarization (FP) Screening Express Kit. Inhibition of MEK1 is evaluated by a coupled assay with active MEK1 (MEK1 S218E/S222E) and unactive dephosphorylated ERK2 (MAP kinase 2/Erk 2). The phosphorylation of a fluorescent-labeled peptide substrate (FAM-Erktide, IPTTPITTTYFFFK-5FAM-COOH) by ERK2 is quantified by using the IMAP FP Screening Express Kit.

The number of viable cells is determined using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay according to the manufacturer's instructions. After the incubation of cells for 72 h with the indicated concentrations of various agents, kit reagent WST-8 is added to the medium and incubated for a further 4 h. The absorbance of samples (450 nm) is determined using a scanning multiwell spectrophotometer that serves as an ELISA reader. Cell numbers and viability are also measured using the ViaCount Assay according to the manufacturer's instructions.(Only for Reference)