Mini review: The FDA-approved prescription drugs that target the MAPK signaling pathway in women with breast cancer

Article type: Review Article

Authors: Khojasteh Poor, Fatemeh^a | Keivan, Mona^{b; c} | Ramazii, Mohammad^d | Ghaedrahmati, Farhoodeh^e | Anbiyaiee, Amir^f; | Panahandeh, Samira^g | Khoshnam, Seyed Esmaeil^h | Farzaneh, Maryam^c;

Affiliations: [a] Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran | [b] Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran | [c] Fertility, Infertility and Perinatology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran | [d] Kerman University of Medical Sciences, University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran | [e] Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran | [f] Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran | [g] School of Health, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran | [h] Persian Gulf Physiology Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding authors: Dr. Amir Anbiyaiee, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz 61357-15794, Iran. Tel./Fax: +98 9120827167; E-mail: amirgegr@gmail.com. Dr. Maryam Farzaneh, Fertility, Infertility and Perinatology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. Tel./Fax: +98 9104579736; E-mail: maryamfarzaneh2013@yahoo.com

Abstract: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer and the prevalent type of malignancy among women. Multiple risk factors, including genetic changes, biological age, dense breast tissue, and obesity are associated with BC. The mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway has a pivotal role in regulating biological functions such as cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and survival. It has become evident that the MAPK pathway is associated with tumorigenesis and may promote breast cancer development. The MAPK/RAS/RAF cascade is closely associated with breast cancer. RAS signaling can enhance BC cell growth and progression. B-Raf is an important kinase and a potent RAF isoform involved in breast tumor initiation and differentiation. Depending on the reasons for cancer, there are different strategies for treatment of women with BC. Till now, several FDA-approved treatments have been investigated that inhibit the MAPK pathway and reduce metastatic progression in breast cancer. The most common breast cancer drugs that regulate or inhibit the MAPK pathway may include Farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTIs), Sorafenib, Vemurafenib, PLX8394, Dabrafenib, Ulixertinib, Simvastatin, Alisertib, and Teriflunomide. In this review, we will discuss the roles of the MAPK/RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway in BC and summarize the FDA-approved prescription drugs that target the MAPK signaling pathway in women with BC.

Keywords: Breast cancer, MAPK pathway, RAS/RAF, MEK/ERK, FDA-approved drugs

DOI: 10.3233/BD-201063

Journal: Breast Disease, vol. 40, no. 2, pp. 51-62, 2021