My journey from tyrosine phosphorylation inhibitors to targeted immune therapy as strategies to combat cancer

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 Jun 11;116(24):11579-11586. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1816012116. Epub 2019 May 10.

Abstract

Since the 1980s there has been a drive toward personalized targeted therapy for cancer. "Targeted cancer therapy" originally focused on inhibiting essential tumor survival factors, primarily protein tyrosine kinases. The complexity and rapid mutability of tumors, however, enable them to develop resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), even when these are multitargeted or applied in combination. This has led to the development of targeted cancer immunotherapy, to enhance immune surveillance against the tumor. In this paper, we provide a personal view of the development of targeted therapy, from TKIs to targeted immunotherapy.

Keywords: cancer; immunotherapy; targeted therapy; tyrosine kinase; tyrphostin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy / methods
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases