Role of receptor tyrosine kinases in lung cancer.
Receptor tyrosine kinases are important in normal cellular physiology as well in the pathogenesis of a variety of tumors, including lung cancer. RTKs are a target for novel therapies currently being investigated. In the clinics, EGFR inhibitors and c-Kit inhibitors are already being utilized, and c-Met inhibitors are in development. Even though the RTK inhibitors provide a novel mechanism, it is important to realize that lung cancer etiology is a complex process, and eventually standard chemotherapy may need to be used in conjunction with these novel therapies to make an important difference in response rates.
Maulik
Gautam
G
Department of Adult Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Kijima
Takashi
T
Salgia
Ravi
R
D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000502:physiology; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000502:physiology; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases