INK 128 (MLN0128) is a selective inhibitor of mTOR with IC50 value of 1 nM [3].
mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) is an evolutionarily conserved serine/threonine kinase which combined PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and plays an important role in regulating many fundamental features of cell growth and division [1].
INK 128 (MLN0128) is a potent mTOR inhibitor. When tested with human pancreatic cancer cells, INK-128 treatment inhibited cell growth and survival via inhibiting mTOR in a time- and concentration- dependent manner [2]. In HER2-positive breast cell lines, INK 128 treatment significantly delayed cell cycle and inhibited cell proliferation through inhibiting mTOR [1].
In a ZR-75-1 breast cancer xenograft model, INK128 treatment in a dose of 0.3mg/Kg/day significantly inhibited tumor growth. When combined with other standard targeted therapy or chemotherapy such as sorafenib, sutent and paclitaxel, enhanced anti-tumor growth activity was observed. INK128 is reported to have excellent physiochemical properties and is currently undergoing preclinical evaluation [3]. When tested with MDA-MB361 mouse model, administration of INK 128 showed a resistance after 20 days, and combined with lapatinib resulted in long-lasting tumor regression [1].
References:
[1]. Garcia-Garcia, C., et al., Dual mTORC1/2 and HER2 blockade results in antitumor activity in preclinical models of breast cancer resistant to anti-HER2 therapy. Clin Cancer Res, 2012. 18(9): p. 2603-12.
[2]. Lou, H.Z., et al., The novel mTORC1/2 dual inhibitor INK-128 suppresses survival and proliferation of primary and transformed human pancreatic cancer cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2014. 450(2): p. 973-8.
[3]. Jessen K, et al. INK128 is a potent and selective TORC1/2 inhibitor with broad oral anti-tumor activity. AACR 2009 Molecular targets and cancer therapeutics meeting poster; Boston: 2009.