Sorafenib (475207-59-1) was initially developed as a Raf kinase inhibitor, IC₅₀ = 6 nM, but has been shown to inhibit many receptor tyrosine kinases including BRAF (IC₅₀ = 22 nM); VEGFR-2 (IC₅₀ = 90 nM); VEGFR-3 (IC₅₀ = 20 nM); PDGFR-β (IC₅₀ = 57 nM); Flt3 (IC₅₀ = 58 nM); c-KIT (IC₅₀ = 68 nM); FGFR-1 (IC₅₀ = 580 nM).¹ Paradoxically more potent in a cellular assay (IC₅₀ = 20 nM) compared to an isolated enzyme assay (IC₅₀ = 107 nM) for c-Fms.² Inhibits activation of MAPK pathway and ERK phosphorylation.³ Induces caspase-independent apoptosis in melanoma cells.⁴ Sorafenib is a clinically useful anticancer agent.

References/Citations:

1) Wilhelm et al. (2004), BAY 43-9006 exhibits broad spectrum oral antitumor activity and targets the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway and receptor tyrosine kinases involved in tumor progression and angiogenesis; Cancer Res., 64 7099
2) Guo et al. (2006), Inhibition of phosphorylation of the colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (c-Fms) tyrosine kinase in transfected cells by ABT-869 and other tyrosine kinase inhibitors; Mol. Cancer Ther., 5 1007
3) Wilhelm et al. (2003), The novel Raf inhibitor BAY 43-9006 blocks signaling and proliferation in BRAF mutant and wildtype melanoma and colorectal tumor cell lies; Proc. Am. Assoc. Cancer Res., 44 106609
4) Panka et al. (2006), The Raf inhibitor BAY 43-9006 (Sorafenib) induces caspase-independent apoptosis in melanoma cells; Cancer Res., 66 1611