Abstract 3714: Trametinib (Mekinist TM) has limited brain distribution in the mouse model
Authors: Vaidhyanathan Shruthi , Mittapalli Rajendar K. , Ma Daniel J. , Schroeder Mark A. , Sarkaria Jann N. , Elmquist William F. 
Published: May 2015

The BBB can critically limit the delivery of several molecularly-targeted agents into the brain. The discovery of focal BRAF mutations in melanoma has stimulated the development of specific BRAF inhibitors. MEK is downstream of BRAF in the MAPK pathway, and has been targeted for combination therapy with BRAF inhibition. Trametinib is a MEK1/2 inhibitor that has improved survival in combination with dabrafenib in clinical trials for metastatic melanoma. We have recently shown that BRAF inhibitors (vemurafenib and dabrafenib) have limited brain distribution due to active efflux at the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Melanoma metastasizes to the brain and effective treatments require adequate CNS exposure of all drugs used in combination therapy. The study purpose was to investigate mechanisms that influence the CNS distribution of trametinib, particularly focusing on the active efflux transport proteins P-gp and Bcrp in the BBB.

Intracellular accumulation and bidirectional flux studies were conducted in polarized MDCKII cells that overexpress human P-gp (MDR1) or murine Bcrp (Bcrp1). The brain and plasma AUCs of trametinib were determined after an intravenous dose of 5 mg/kg in WT, Mdr1a/b (-/-), Bcrp1 (-/-) and Mdr1a/b (-/-) Bcrp1 (-/-) (TKO) mice. The steady-state brain distribution of trametinib was determined using osmotic pumps in WT and Mdr1a/b (-/-) (P-gp KO), Bcrp1 (-/-) (Bcrp KO), and Mdr1a/b (-/-) Bcrp1 (-/-) (TKO) mice. The steady-state brain distribution of a combination of trametinib and dabrafenib were determined in WT and TKO mice. IC50s were determined in patient-derived melanoma cell lines (WT and V600E mutant) using the MTT assay.

Intracellular accumulation of trametinib was 45% lower in the MDCKII-MDR1 cells and 81% lower in the MDCKII-Bcrp1 cells as compared to WT. Trametinib permeability was ∼ 2.5 and 3.7-fold greater in the basolateral-to-apical direction as compared to apical-to-basolateral direction in the MDR1 and Bcrp1 cells, respectively. Following a single intravenous dose, the brain-to-plasma AUC ratios were approximately 5-fold greater in P-gp KO and TKO mice as compared to the WT. Interestingly, the brain distribution of trametinib in Bcrp KO mice was no different from WT mice. The steady-state brain to plasma (B/P) ratio of trametinib was 5-fold greater in the TKO mice when compared to the wild-type mice. The B/P ratio of both dabrafenib and trametinib were significantly greater in the TKO mice as compared to WT when dosed simultaneously. The IC50 for trametinib alone was &gt; 10 μM in both the WT (M15) and V600E (M12) mutant cells, while a combination of dabrafenib and trametinib had an IC50 of 2.04 μM in the M12 cells.

This study shows that P-gp and BCRP restrict the brain distribution of trametinib with P-gp playing a dominant role in the efflux of trametinib at the blood-brain barrier. These findings are clinically relevant to the efficacy of trametinib in mono or combination therapy for the treatment of melanoma brain metastases.

Citation Format: Shruthi Vaidhyanathan, Rajendar K. Mittapalli, Daniel J. Ma, Mark A. Schroeder, Jann N. Sarkaria, William F. Elmquist. Trametinib (Mekinist TM) has limited brain distribution in the mouse model. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3714. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3714