MEK Inhibitors in Lung Cancer-You Can Teach an Old Drug New Tricks.

Abstract

In this issue of <i>Cancer Research</i>, Xie and colleagues reveal an unexpected synergy between MEK inhibitors and immune checkpoint blockade in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Small-molecule inhibition of MEK led to increased cell surface expression of TNF receptor-1 (TNFR1) and sensitized NSCLC cells to cytokine-induced apoptosis. This study provides preclinical rationale for exploring the combination of MAPK pathway inhibitors with immunotherapy in NSCLC, independent of <i>KRAS</i> mutation status.<i>See related article by Xie et al., p. 5812</i>.