The present invention provides, inter alia, methods, kits, and pharmaceutical compositions for treating or ameliorating the effects of a cancer in a subject in need thereof. The method comprises administering to the subject an effective amount of (i) a first anti-cancer agent, which is BVD-523 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and (ii) a second anti-cancer agent, which is a CDK inhibitor or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to treat or ameliorate the effects of the cancer. Additional methods for effecting cancer cell death are also provided.