Tyrosine kinase inhibitors belong to the class of molecular target drugs and have been used in the treatment of kidney, lung, head and neck cancer, as well as certain sarcomas and some hematologic neoplasms.
Some cells produce certain substances capable of stimulating the growth of the cell itself and other cells. These substances are called growth factors.
Growth factors exert their effects by binding to receptors located on the surface of cells, called membrane receptors.
Each growth factor binds to its specific receptor, thanks to the structural complementarity between the two molecules, as in a lock and key system.
Once the growth factor binds to its own receptor, a series of chemical reactions occurs inside the cell, culminating in the expression of genes that will activate functions such as cell proliferation or angiogenesis.
For this series of chemical reactions to occur, the participation of a protein called tyrosine kinase is essential. Thus, the inhibition of tyrosine kinase prevents the transmission of signals between the growth factor, its receptor, the inside of the cell, and the genes, preventing the stimulation of cell proliferation and angiogenesis.
To learn more about molecular target drugs, consult the “Frequently Asked Questions – Molecular Target Drugs” section.
