CHEK2 checkpoint kinase 2
ENSG00000183765 · protein coding · Open Targets profile
Serine/threonine-protein kinase which is required for checkpoint-mediated cell cycle arrest, activation of DNA repair and apoptosis in response to the presence of DNA double-strand breaks. May also negatively regulate cell cycle progression during unperturbed cell cycles. Following activation, phosphorylates numerous effectors preferentially at the consensus sequence [L-X-R-X-X-S/T] (PubMed:37943659). Regulates cell cycle checkpoint arrest through phosphorylation of CDC25A, CDC25B and CDC25C, inhibiting their activity. Inhibition of CDC25 phosphatase activity leads to increased inhibitory tyrosine phosphorylation of CDK-cyclin complexes and blocks cell cycle progression. May also phosphorylate NEK6 which is involved in G2/M cell cycle arrest. Regulates DNA repair through phosphorylation of BRCA2, enhancing the association of RAD51 with chromatin which promotes DNA repair by homologous recombination. Also stimulates the transcription of genes involved in DNA repair (including BRCA2) through the phosphorylation and activation of the transcription factor FOXM1. Regulates apoptosis through the phosphorylation of p53/TP53, MDM4 and PML. Phosphorylation of p53/TP53 at 'Ser-20' by CHEK2 may alleviate inhibition by MDM2, leading to accumulation of active p53/TP53. Phosphorylation of MDM4 may also reduce degradation of p53/TP53. Also controls the transcription of pro-apoptotic genes through phosphorylation of the transcription factor E2F1. Tumor suppressor, it may also have a DNA damage-independent function in mitotic spindle assembly by phosphorylating BRCA1. Its absence may be a cause of the chromosomal instability observed in some cancer cells. Promotes the CCAR2-SIRT1 association and is required for CCAR2-mediated SIRT1 inhibition (PubMed:25361978). Under oxidative stress, promotes ATG7 ubiquitination by phosphorylating the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM32 at 'Ser-55' leading to positive regulation of the autophagosme assembly (PubMed:37943659). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:Q9Z265, ECO:0000269|PubMed:10097108, ECO:0000269|PubMed:10724175, ECO:0000269|PubMed:11298456, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12402044, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12607004, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12717439, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12810724, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16163388, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17101782, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17380128, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17715138, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18317453, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18644861, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18728393, ECO:0000269|PubMed:20364141, ECO:0000269|PubMed:25361978, ECO:0000269|PubMed:25619829, ECO:0000269|PubMed:37943659, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9836640, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9889122}.
Each band is a group of drugs. It runs from the kind of drug on the left to the furthest stage that drug has reached in any disease on the right. Thicker bands mean more drugs.
Approved bands are highlighted. Withdrawn means the drug was pulled from the market or from development. A combined phase counts as the later one (Phase 1/2 is shown as Phase 2). Hover a band for the drug names. Source: Open Targets Platform, fetched live.
Each row is a cancer, strongest overall evidence first. The two dots show how strong the inherited (germline) and tumour-mutation (somatic) evidence is; the line between them is the gap.
Scores run from 0 (no evidence) to 1 (strongest). A missing dot at 0 means Open Targets holds no evidence of that kind. Source: Open Targets Platform, fetched live.
Tractability
- Small molecule
- Advanced Clinical, Structure with Ligand, High-Quality Ligand, High-Quality Pocket, Druggable Family
- PROTAC
- UniProt Ubiquitination, Database Ubiquitination, Half-life Data, Small Molecule Binder
gnomAD loss of function constraint: o/e 1.027500033378601 (upper bound 1.2518999576568604). Low values mean loss of function is poorly tolerated, a safety flag for inhibition.
Who runs trials of these drugs
Principal investigators and study chairs on 6 registry trials, updated in the last three years, of the most advanced drugs against CHEK2 (prexasertib), ranked by Phase 2+ trials. Live from ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Christine ChungMoffitt Cancer Center · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Emily SlotkinMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Isabelle Ray-CoquardCentre Leon Berard · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Joyce A O'ShaughnessyBaylor Scott and White University Medical Center · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Panagiotis KonstantinopoulosDana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Cynthia J WetmoreCOG Phase I Consortium · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Giles W. RobinsonSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
Registry trials of prexasertib updated in the last three years, counted by the country group of their listed sites. A trial with sites in several groups counts in each; 5 of 6 have all sites in one country.
Site counts are not patients per country, and trials registered only outside ClinicalTrials.gov are not covered. Where sites are is a fact about the record, not a judgement of its quality. Europe is the EU and EEA, the UK and Switzerland. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, fetched live.
4 trials of drugs against CHEK2 were stopped early; 1 give no reason
Terminated, withdrawn and suspended interventional trials of prexasertib, XL-844, newest update first, live from ClinicalTrials.gov. Each reason is quoted exactly as the registry gives it; we do not sort reasons into safety, efficacy or business. Dates are the last registry update. Showing the 4 most recent of 4.
- terminated · 2022-09-10 · National Cancer Institute (NCI) · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Eli Lilly prematurely terminated the study.”
- terminated · 2019-06-12 · Dana-Farber Cancer Institute · Prexasertib“Sponsor Decision”
- terminated · 2015-08-21 · Exelixis · matched by the registry's drug synonymsNo reason given
- terminated · 2008-06-04 · Exelixis · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Study closed due to slow enrollment”
Paediatric incentives and obligations for CHEK2's drugs
For prexasertib, XL-844: what EMA and FDA publish about paediatric plans, orphan status and pediatric approvals, and how many registered studies take children. Each line is a yes, no or not published fact from the record linked under it; none of it is a forecast.
- FDA pediatric target list: no · CHEK2 is not on the listRule: Target is on FDA's Pediatric Molecular Target List (relevant targets). Source: FDA Pediatric Molecular Target List (Listed as February 2026 on the FDA Pediatric Oncology page; the file served is 9.7.22_the_relevant_molecular_target_list.xlsx, whose Summary of Changes sheet is headed 'SEPTEMBER 2022 UPDATE' (footnote date 2022-09-01)), 2026-11-11
- EU paediatric investigation plan: no · No EMA paediatric investigation plan decision names prexasertib, xl-844Rule: An EMA PIP decision (agreement, modification or waiver) lists the drug as its active substance, exact name. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- EU orphan designation: no · No EU orphan designation names prexasertib, xl-844Rule: An EU orphan designation lists the drug as its active substance (exact name) or belongs to a medicine that does; withdrawn and expired designations are listed with their status. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- Authorised in the EU: no · EMA lists no centrally authorised medicine of prexasertib, xl-844Rule: An EMA medicine record lists the drug as its active substance or INN, exact name; national-only authorisations are not in this file. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- FDA orphan designation: not published · FDA's orphan designation database turns away automated requests, so this app does not read it; search it by hand at the linkRule: Would be: an FDA orphan designation names the drug. Source: FDA orphan designations search
- FDA pediatric oncology approval: no · FDA's table lists no pediatric approval of prexasertib, xl-844Rule: FDA's Pediatric Oncology Drug Approvals table names the drug. Source: FDA Pediatric Oncology Drug Approvals (content current as of 2026-03-03), 2026-11-11
- Registered studies open to children: yes · 3 interventional studies of prexasertib, xl-844 include patients under 18; 0 are recruiting, not yet recruiting or activeRule: The registry's age group includes Child (birth to 17 years), which also counts studies that set no minimum age. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov search, 2026-11-11
Rare pediatric disease voucher. FDA, content current as of 29 Apr 2026: “As of February 3, 2026, enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, the rare pediatric disease PRV program will sunset after September 30, 2029. FDA may not award any PRVs under this program after September 30, 2029.” Voucher sale prices are not shown here; they appear only as company-reported news. FDA: Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Priority Review Voucher Programs
All 2 drugs and clinical candidates as a table
Each drug, stage and indication links to its Open Targets record, where the trials and approvals behind it are listed. Salt forms (for example a mesylate) are listed as Open Targets records them, as separate entries.
| Drug | Type | Highest stage | Indications | Source records |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PREXASERTIB | Small molecule | phase 2 | ovarian cancer, small cell lung carcinoma, breast cancer, triple-negative breast carcinoma, endometrial cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, desmoplastic small round cell tumor, rhabdomyosarcoma, +10 more | Open Targets · ChEMBL |
| XL-844 | Unknown | phase 1 | B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia | Open Targets · ChEMBL |