title: Receptor tyrosine kinase (c-Kit) inhibitors: a potential therapeutic target in cancer cells.
abstract: c-Kit, a receptor tyrosine kinase, is involved in intracellular signaling, and the mutated form of c-Kit plays a crucial role in occurrence of some cancers. The function of c-Kit has led to the concept that inhibiting c-Kit kinase activity can be a target for cancer therapy. The promising results of inhibition of c-Kit for treatment of cancers have been observed in some cancers such as gastrointestinal stromal tumor, acute myeloid leukemia, melanoma, and other tumors, and these results have encouraged attempts toward improvement of using c-Kit as a capable target for cancer therapy. This paper presents the findings of previous studies regarding c-Kit as a receptor tyrosine kinase and an oncogene, as well as its gene targets and signaling pathways in normal and cancer cells. The c-Kit gene location, protein structure, and the role of c-Kit in normal cell have been discussed. Comprehending the molecular mechanism underlying c-Kit-mediated tumorogenesis is consequently essential and may lead to the identification of future novel drug targets. The potential mechanisms by which c-Kit induces cellular transformation have been described. This study aims to elucidate the function of c-Kit for future cancer therapy. In addition, it has c-Kit inhibitor drug properties and their functions have been listed in tables and demonstrated in schematic pictures. This review also has collected previous studies that targeted c-Kit as a novel strategy for cancer therapy. This paper further emphasizes the advantages of this approach, as well as the limitations that must be addressed in the future. Finally, although c-Kit is an attractive target for cancer therapy, based on the outcomes of treatment of patients with c-Kit inhibitors, it is unlikely that Kit inhibitors alone can lead to cure. It seems that c-Kit mutations alone are not sufficient for tumorogenesis, but do play a crucial role in cancer occurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abbaspour Babaei
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Shahrak-e Pajoohesh; Medical Genetics Department, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Behnam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kamalidehghan
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota; Section of Molecular Therapeutics & Cancer Health Disparity, The Hormel Institute, Austin, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saleem
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Clinical Investigation Centre, University Malaya Medical Centre, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Hasniza Zaman
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Huri
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ahmadipour
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
keywords: c-Kit; cancer; cancer therapy; oncogene