Pharmacology
Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor
Also known as: TKI, Tyrosine kinase blocker, Small molecule inhibitor
Definition
A type of targeted therapy that blocks enzymes called tyrosine kinases, which help send growth signals in cells.
Detailed Explanation
Tyrosine kinases are proteins that control cell growth and division. Many cancer cells have abnormal tyrosine kinase activity. TKIs are small molecules that block these enzymes, stopping cancer cell growth. They're used to treat many cancers including CML (imatinib, asciminib), NSCLC (gefitinib, osimertinib), and kidney cancer (sunitinib).