Receptor Tyrosine Kinases as Targets for Cancer Therapy Development

摘要: Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are membrane-spanning proteins that possess a ligand-controlled intracellular kinase activity. They regulate wide variety of cellular processess as diverse cell proliferation, apoptosis or migration. Consequently, dysregulation RTKs due to overexpression, mutation autocrine stimulation has been causally linked cancer development and progression. The advent molecular cloning allowed the elucidationof primary structure first RTK, EGFR. Subsequent research in this field led tremendous advances understanding signalling processes governing both physiological pathophysiological behaviour cells. These discoveries paved way for target-specific therapeutics opened up new era targeted approaches treatment human cancer. approval monoclonal antibodies such Herceptin© breast small molecule inhibitors Gleevec© gastrointestinal stromal tumors underlines power success novel strategy.