Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Cancer Immunotherapy

Abstract Targeted therapy is a new cancer treatment approach, involving drugs that particularly target specific proteins in cancer cells, such as receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) which are involved in promoting growth and proliferation, Therefore inhibiting these proteins could impede cancer progression. An understanding of RTKs and the relevant signaling cascades, has enabled the development of many targeted drug therapies employing RTK inhibitors (RTKIs) that have entered clinical applications. Here we discuss RTK structures, activation mechanisms and functions. Moreover, we cover the potential effects of combination drug therapy (including chemotherapy drugs with one RTKI or multiple RTKIs) especially for drug resistant cancers.