Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI)
Also known as: TKI, kinase inhibitor
Oral targeted drugs that block specific growth signals inside cancer cells.
Definition
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are a class of targeted therapy drugs that block specific enzymes (kinases) which cancer cells use to send growth signals. They are usually taken as a daily tablet at home, rather than as an intravenous infusion.
TKIs have transformed the treatment of several cancers. Imatinib and its successors made chronic myeloid leukemia a manageable, often near-normal-life disease. EGFR-TKIs (such as gefitinib, erlotinib and osimertinib) and ALK-TKIs are now standard first-line therapy for the right patients with advanced lung cancer. Side effects are usually different from chemotherapy and may include rash, diarrhoea, fatigue and liver-test changes; monitoring is essential.
See also
- Targeted Therapy — Drugs designed to attack specific molecules involved in cancer growth, with less harm to normal cells.
- EGFR — A protein on the surface of some cancer cells that can be blocked by targeted drugs.
- Leukemia — A cancer of the white blood cells that begins in the bone marrow.
- Genetic Testing — Tests that examine genes to find inherited risk or to guide cancer treatment.
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Medically reviewed by
Dr. Rehan Abdullah
Dr. Rehan Abdullah is a dual-trained clinical and radiation oncologist with over a decade of experience treating both solid tumours and hematologic malignancies. He serves as Consultant Oncologist at INMOL Hospital and sees patients at Farooq Hospital and Healthnox Medical Center, Lahore. Read full profile →
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