PLX4032, a selective BRAFV600E kinase inhibitor, activates the ERK pathway and enhances cell migration and proliferation of BRAFWT melanoma cells
[Paper-level Aggregated] PMCID: PMC2848976
Evidence Type(s): Predictive, Oncogenic, Functional
Justification: Predictive: The study demonstrates that the presence of BRAF mutations, specifically BRAFV600E/K, predicts sensitivity to the drug PLX4032, as evidenced by the significantly lower IC50 values in BRAF mutant melanoma cell strains compared to BRAF wild-type cells. Oncogenic: The BRAFV600E/K mutations are described as frequent mutationally active tumor-specific kinases in melanomas, indicating their role in driving oncogenesis in these tumors. Functional: The study explores the functional effects of PLX4032 on ERK1/2 phosphorylation and downstream signaling pathways, demonstrating how BRAF mutations influence cellular responses to the drug.
Gene→Variant (gene-first): BRAF(673):BRAFV600E BRAF(673):BRAFV600K NRAS(4893):Q61L BRAF(673):V600E/K JUNB(3726):R89L BRAF(673):V600E
Genes: BRAF(673) NRAS(4893) JUNB(3726)
Variants: BRAFV600E BRAFV600K Q61L V600E/K R89L V600E