Various Protein Kinase Inhibitors as Anticancer Agents: History
Please note this is an old version of this entry, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Subjects: Oncology

Protein kinases (PTKs) are enzymes that regulate the biological activity of proteins by phosphorylation of certain amino acid residues. This reaction causes a conformational change from an inactive to an active form of the protein, which is one of the most important regulatory mechanisms of the cell cycle and transduction of external signals. Dysregulation of protein kinases activity is implicated in the processes of carcinogenesis and the progression of various solid cancers. Therefore, protein kinases are prime targets for the development of selective anticancer drugs.

  • Protein kinases
  • Anticancer agents
  • Small molecule inhibitors

1. Tyrosine Kinase (TK) Inhibitors

Tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are enzymes that selectively phosphorylate the hydroxyl groups of a tyrosine residue in different proteins with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as the source of phosphate. They have a share in the regulation of the most fundamental cellular processes, such as growth, differentiation, proliferation, survival, migration and metabolism of cells or programed cell death in response to extracellular and intracellular stimuli [1]. There are two types of tyrosine kinases, namely receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and nonreceptor tyrosine kinases (NRTKs) [2]. A lot of RTKs and NRTKs are associated with cancers, thus a significant number of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are currently in clinical development. Since 2011, the FDA approved eleven new anticancer drugs that are inhibitors of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR or HER1), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), human epidermal growth factor receptor 4 (HER4), fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs), vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs), mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (MET) or receptor tyrosine kinase rearranged during transfection (RET) (Table 1). These drugs show anticancer activity by blocking multiple molecular signal transduction pathways (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Molecular signal transduction pathways for specific receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). VEGFR2: vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2. EGFR: epidermal growth factor receptor. ALK: anaplastic lymphoma kinase. HER2/4: human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 and 4. MET: mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor. FGFRs: fibroblast growth factor receptors. RET: tyrosine kinase rearranged during transfection receptor. Gab1: Grb2-associated-binding protein 1. Grb2: growth factor receptor-bound protein 2. SOS: Son of sevenless. PLCγ:. phospholipase C gamma. DAG: diacylglycerol. PKC: protein kinase C. RAS: rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog. RAF: proto-oncogene serine/threonine-protein kinase. MEK: mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase. ERK: mitogen-activated protein kinase. PI3K: phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. PIP2: phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. PIP3: phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate. PTEN: phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten. PDK: 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase. AKT: protein kinase B. mTORC1: mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1. 4E-BP1: 4E-binding protein 1. eIF4E: eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E. S6K: p70S6 kinase. S6: S6 protein. JAK: Janus kinase. STAT: signal transducer and activator of transcription. Created with BioRender.com based on information in [3][4][5][6][7][8][9].
The oncogenic driver mutations identified in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) include ALK gene rearrangements, ROS1 gene rearrangements, EGFR mutations, MET mutations and RET rearrangements [10]. In NSCLC harboring ALK gene rearrangements are observed ALK fusion proteins with potent transforming activity as oncogenic drivers of tumor growth [11]. Ceritinib is the second-generation AKL inhibitor that blocks autophosphorylation of ALK and ALK-mediated phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), which is a downstream signaling protein [12][13]. Hence, this drug inhibits the cell cycle in the G1 phase and the proliferation of ALK-dependent cancer cells. Among the existing therapies targeting EGFR-mutated NSCLC, there have been two FDA-approved medicaments during the last eleven years, i.e., osimertinib and mobocertinib. Osimertinib is a third-generation, irreversible TK inhibitor of both EGFR TKI-sensitizing mutations and a secondary EGFR mutation in exon 20, namely T790M [14]. Mobocertinib, on the other hand, is a first-in-class irreversible EGFR TK inhibitor, which was specifically developed to selectively inhibit oncogenic variants containing EGFR exon 20 insertion (EGFRex20ins) mutations. Both drugs form a covalent bond with cysteine 797 in EGFR with high-affinity binding resulting in sustained EGFR activity inhibition [15][16]. The difference in the structure of these drugs is the presence of an isopropyl ester group on the pyrimidine ring of mobocertinib, leading to increased selectivity for the EGFRex20ins mutant compared with osimertinib [16]. In NSCLC, MET and its mutant variants produced by gene mutation, amplification and overexpression are attractive targets for a blockade. For example, MET and variant with exon 14 skipping mutation are targets for capmatinib and tepotinib activity. The drugs act by inhibition of MET phosphorylation and the activation of key downstream effectors in MET-dependent cancer cell lines [17][18]. The cancers harboring RET alterations, particularly NSCLC, can be treated with pralsetinib. It selectively inhibits RET autophosphorylation and proliferation of RET-mutant cancer cells [9].
Overexpression of HER2 occurs approximately in 15 to 20% of breast cancers. Neratinib and tucatinib are inhibitors of the human epidermal growth factor receptors (HERs) that are used for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer (HER2 + BC). Neratinib irreversibly inhibits EGFR, HER2 and HER4 kinases, while tucatinib reversibly and highly selectively blocks HER2. The drugs have shown to be effective in monotherapy or in combination chemotherapy with capecitabine [19][20]. Patients with HER2 + BC who have disease progression after prior therapy with multiple HER2-targeted drugs may benefit from these TKIs used with or without trastuzumab [21][22]. The mechanism of action of both drugs includes binding to the ATP pocket of the HER2, which results in decreased receptor autophosphorylation and inhibition of downstream mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol triphosphate kinase (PI3K) signaling. This leads to cell cycle arrest at the G1-S phase, thereby reducing cell proliferation [23][24].
FGFR2 fusion or rearrangements are present in 10–16% of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas. Treatment options, which improve clinical outcomes of patients with cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) harboring FGFR2 gene fusions, have been extended to the first two targeted therapies, i.e., pemigatinib and infigratinib [25][26]. The FDA approval of these TKIs includes the indication for adults with previously treated, unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic CCA. Their mechanism of action is a selective, ATP-competitive inhibition of fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs). Both drugs potently inhibit FGFR1, FGFR2 and FGFR3 kinases and also demonstrate weaker activity against FGFR4 [27][28].
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer. From a pathologist’s point of view, RCC tends to be a highly vascular tumor. The prominent vascularization is due to the increased production of proangiogenic growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs) [29]. Tivozanib is a quinoline-urea derivative that inhibits VEGFRs in an ATP-competitive manner. In particular, the drug shows inhibitory activity against VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 at picomolar concentrations. The analysis of the mechanism of action indicates that tivozanib produced a significant inhibition of the ligand-induced phosphorylation of VEGFRs causing direct anticancer activity as well as suppression of angiogenesis and vascular permeability [30]. In clinical trials, this agent used as third-line or fourth-line therapy in patients with RCC improved progression-free survival and was better tolerated than sorafenib [31]. The promising results of tivozanib led to its approval by the FDA for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory advanced RCC following two or more prior systemic therapies [32].
Table 1. Features of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors approved as drugs by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 2011 to 2022. The order of drugs is tabulated in order of most recent to oldest registration date. A generic name of a drug is an international nonproprietary name (INN).
No Generic Name of Drug Brand Name
and Company
First FDA/EMA Approval Date Structure Molecular Target Route of Administration Indication Adverse Effects Ref.
1 Mobocertinib EXKIVITY
Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc., Deerfield, IL, USA
FDA:
15 September 2021
EMA:
Not approved
Molecules 27 02259 i001 EGFR 1 Oral Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Diarrhea, rash, stomatitis, vomiting, decreased appetite, nausea, paronychia, musculoskeletal pain, dry skin, fatigue, decreased hemoglobin, decreased lymphocytes, increased creatinine, amylase, and lipase, decreased potassium, and magnesium [33]
2 Infigratinib TRUSELTIQ BridgeBio Pharma, Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA FDA:
28 May 2021
EMA:
21 August 2020
Molecules 27 02259 i002 FGFRs 2 Oral Cholangiocarcinoma Nail toxicity, stomatitis, dry eye, fatigue, increased creatinine, phosphate, alkaline phosphate, and alanine aminotransferase, decreased phosphate, and hemoglobin [34][35]
3 Tivozanib FOTIVDA
AVEO Oncology, Boston, MA, USA; Eusa Pharma (Netherlands) B.V., Schiphol-Rijk
FDA:
10 March 2021
EMA:
24 August 2017
Molecules 27 02259 i003 VEGFRs 3 Oral Renal Cell Carcinoma Fatigue, hypertension, diarrhea, decreased appetite, nausea, dysphonia, hypothyroidism, cough, stomatitis, sodium decreased, lipase increased, and phosphate decreased

[32][36][37]

4 Tepotinib TEPMETKO EMD Serono, Inc., Darmstadt, Germany. FDA:
3 February 2021
EMA:
Not approved
Molecules 27 02259 i004 MET 4 Oral Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Peripheral edema, diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, decreased appetite, increased blood creatinine levels, hypoalbuminemia, increased amylase levels [38]
5 Pralsetinib GAVRETO Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA FDA:
4 September 2020
EMA:
18 November 2021
Molecules 27 02259 i005 RET 5 Oral Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Fatigue, constipation, musculoskeletal pain, hypertension [39][40]
6 Capmatinib TABRECTA Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Basel, Switzerland FDA:
6 May 2020
EMA:
Not approved
Molecules 27 02259 i006 MET 4 Oral Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Peripheral edema, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, dyspnea, decreased appetite [41]
7 Pemigatinib PEMAZYRE Incyte Corporation, Wilmington, DE, USA FDA:
17 April 2020
EMA:
March 26, 2021
Molecules 27 02259 i007 FGFRs 2 Oral Cholangiocarcinoma Hyperphosphatasemia, alopecia, diarrhea, fatigue, dyspepsia [42][43]
8 Tucatinib TUKYSA Seattle Genetics, Inc., Bothell, WA, USA FDA:
17 April 2020
EMA:
11 February 2021
Molecules 27 02259 i008 HER2 6 Oral Breast Cancer Diarrhea, palmar–plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome, decreased hemoglobin or phosphate, nausea [44][45]
9 Neratinib NERLYNX
Puma Biotechnology, Inc., Los Angeles, CA, USA
FDA:
17 July 2017
EMA:
31 August 2018
Molecules 27 02259 i009 EGFR 1, HER2 6, HER4 7 Oral Breast Cancer Diarrhea [46][47]
10 Osimertinib TAGRISSO AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK FDA:
13 November 2015
EMA:
24 April 2017
Molecules 27 02259 i010 EGFR 1 Oral Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Diarrhea, rash, dry skin, nail toxicity [48][49]
11 Ceritinib ZYKADIA Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Basel, Switzerland FDA:
29 April 2014
EMA:
6 May 2015
Molecules 27 02259 i011 ALK 8 Oral Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain [50][51]
1 EGFR: epidermal growth factor receptor. 2 FGFRs: fibroblast growth factor receptors. 3 VEGFRs: vascular endothelial growth factor receptors. 4 MET: mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor. 5 RET: tyrosine kinase rearranged during transfection receptor. 6 HER2: human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. 7 HER4: human epidermal growth factor receptor 4. 8 ALK: anaplastic lymphoma kinase.

 

2. Cyclin-Dependent Kinase (CDK) Inhibitors

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are a family of serine-threonine kinases. They regulate the cell cycle and other important cellular functions, including gene transcription, metabolism and neuronal function. The human genome codifies 20 CDKs (1–20) and 13 groups of cyclin, which are proteins that control the activities of the CDKs through their oscillating level during the cell cycle [52]. The CDKs have been grouped into cell cycle-related subfamilies (CDK1, 4 and 5) and transcriptional subfamilies (CDK7, 8, 9, 11 and 20). Dysregulating the CDKs and cyclins level leads to abnormal cell proliferation and tumor growth. Owing to the role of CDKs in cancer cells, their inhibition is an important target for novel anticancer drugs. The suppression of CDK4 and CDK6 activity is now being investigated to treat various solid tumors, including lung, prostate and ovarian cancers. The CDK4/6 inhibitors, i.e., palbociclib, ribociclib and abemaciclib, demonstrated promising clinical activity in the treatment of advanced breast cancer, thereby being recently FDA approved (Table 2) [53][54]. The approval of abemaciclib (as VERZENIO) includes using it for monotherapy or in combination with fulvestrant, which is an estrogen receptor antagonist. Palbociclib (as IBRANCE) was registered for combination therapy with fulvestrant or an aromatase inhibitor (letrozole). Ribociclib (as KISQALI) was approved only in combination with an aromatase inhibitor (letrozole) for initial endocrine-based therapy. All of these drugs are selective inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) and 6 (CDK6). They inhibit Rb protein phosphorylation in the early G1 phase, thereby blocking cell-cycle transition from G1 to S phase and reducing cancer cell growth (Figure 2) [55][56][57][58]. In addition, abemaciclib is able to penetrate the blood–brain barrier (BBB), thereby being promising to achieve regression of primary and metastatic tumors involving the central nervous system (CNS). The ongoing clinical trials allow evaluating abemaciclib for therapy in patients with brain metastases and leptomeningeal metastases (LM) secondary to HR-positive breast cancer [59][60].
Figure 2. Mechanism of action of CDK4/6 inhibitors (the “x” on the arrows indicates process inhibition). CDK4/6: cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6. P: phosphate group. Rb: retinoblastoma protein. E2F: E2 factor. G1: first growth phase. S: synthesis phase. G2: second growth phase. M: mitotic phase. Created with BioRender.com based on information in Ref. [54].
Table 2. Features of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors approved as drugs by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 2011 to 2022. The order of drugs is tabulated in order of most recent to oldest registration date. A generic name of a drug is an international nonproprietary name (INN).
No. Generic Name of Drug Brand Name
and Company
First FDA/EMA Approval Date Structure Molecular Target Route of Administration Indication Adverse Effects Ref.
1 Abemaciclib VERZENIO
Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA
FDA:
28 September 2017
EMA:
27 September 2018
Molecules 27 02259 i012 CDK4 1, CDK6 2 Oral Breast Cancer Diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, neutropenia, vomiting, infections, anemia, headache, thrombocytopenia, leucopenia [61][62]
2 Ribociclib KISQALI Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Basel, Switzerland FDA:
13 March 2017
EMA:
22 August 2017
Molecules 27 02259 i013 CDK4 1, CDK6 2 Oral Breast Cancer Neutropenia, nausea, infections, fatigue, diarrhea [63][64]
3 Palbociclib IBRANCE
Pfizer Inc., New York City, NY, USA
FDA:
3 February 2015
EMA:
9 November 2016
Molecules 27 02259 i014 CDK4 1, CDK6 2 Oral Breast Cancer Neutropenia, leukopenia, fatigue, anemia, nausea, arthralgia, alopecia, diarrhea, hot flush [65][66]
1 CDK4: cyclin-dependent kinase 4. 2 CDK6: cyclin-dependent kinase 6.

3. Multi-Kinase Inhibitors

In solid cancers, the frequently aberrant activity of various components of signaling pathways occurs by the hyperactivation of several different kinases (Figure 3). Multi-kinase inhibitor is one agent that targets a set of structurally related kinases leading to simultaneous blocking of their activity [67]. The use of one multi-kinase inhibitor is preferred to two single agents, since drug–drug interactions can trigger changing metabolism and activities against particular kinases. Multi kinase drugs become the second choice when their pharmacokinetic properties are worse. Besides, multi-kinase inhibitors are less specific and can consequently result in more side effects. The disadvantage during treatment with multi-kinase inhibitors is acquired resistance [68]. The approval characteristics of FDA-registered multi-kinase inhibitors are presented in Table 3.
Figure 3. Schematic representation of mode of action of multi-kinase inhibitors that target a set of various related kinases (the “x” on the arrows indicates process inhibition). CSF1R: colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor. TRKs: tropomyosin receptor tyrosine kinases. TIE2: tunica interna endothelial cell kinase 2. ROS1: proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase ROS. c-Kit: mast/stem cell growth factor receptor. FLT3: FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3. AXL: AXL receptor tyrosine kinase. ALK: anaplastic lymphoma kinase. VEGFRs: vascular endothelial growth factor receptors. FGFRs: fibroblast growth factor receptors. EGFR: epidermal growth factor receptor. HER2/2: human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 and 2. HER4/4: human epidermal growth factor receptor 4 and 4. PDGFRs: platelet-derived growth factor receptors. RET: receptor tyrosine kinase rearranged during transfection. B-Raf: serine/threonine-protein kinase B-Raf. Raf-1: RAF serine/threonine-protein kinase. MEK1: mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1. MEK2: mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 2. MET: mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor. Created with BioRender.com.
Patients with NSCLC receiving the first-generation TKIs, e.g., crizotinib, geftinib and erlotinib, experienced issues related to acquired resistance. This resistance can develop by various mechanisms, such as crizotinib-resistant mutations in the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) domain. In addition, patients’ treatment with crizotinib often develops CNS metastases, likely due to the poor CNS penetration of crizotinib. However, crizotinib exhibits higher clinical response rates than standard chemotherapy and is recommended both for first-line therapy in NSCLC, as well as next-line therapy in patients who have not been treated with crizotinib previously. The next-generation multi-kinase inhibitors are designed to overcome TKI-resistant mutations. Alectinib, brigatinib and entrectinib, which are the second-generation ALK inhibitors, possess activity against treatment-resistant ALK mutants, whereas lorlatinib, which belongs to the third-generation drug, is highly selective proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase ROS (ROS1) and ALK inhibitor and has the ability of robust brain penetration [69]. The second-generation EGFR TKIs, namely dacomitinib and afatinib, are characterized by their broader activity against HER family members and irreversibility, covalently binding to their targets of the kinases domain. They have the potential for anticancer activity against receptors with acquired mutations that are resistant to first-generation inhibitors. For example, dacomitinib specifically inhibits EGFR with exon 19 deletion or exon 21 L858R substitution mutations but also inhibits HER2, HER4 and transphosphorylation of HER3 [70].
Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) mutations are frequently observed in a variety of malignancies, e.g., FGFR2/3 alternations are common in urothelial carcinoma. Erdafitinib, a pan-FGFR inhibitor, is a promising therapy for cancers harboring these mutations. Erdafitinib obtained its first global approval in 2019 for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma with FGFR alterations. The response to treatment was fast and independent of the number of previous therapies, the presence of visceral metastasis or tumor location [71]. The ongoing clinical trials show that erdafitinib demonstrated anticancer activity against other cancers, including cholangiocarcinoma, liver cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, prostate cancer, lymphoma and esophageal cancer [72]. The next drug approved by the FDA in 2019 is pexidartinib, which is used in the therapy of symptomatic tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT). The drug is a selective inhibitor of the colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF1) receptor, mast/stem cell growth factor receptor (c-Kit or CD117) and FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 harboring an internal tandem duplication mutation (FLT3-ITD). The action mechanism of pexidartinib is to arrest the kinase in the autoinhibited state by interacting with the CSF1R juxtamembrane region, which prevents an ATP and substrate binding [73].
The multi-kinase inhibitors that already obtained approval for the treatment of metastatic melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer with a high mortality rate, are second-generation serine/threonine-protein kinase B-Raf (B-Raf) inhibitors, such as vemurafenib, dabrafenib or encorafenib and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase (MEK) inhibitors, such as trametinib, cobimetinib or binimetinib. They are the most promising treatment strategies for melanoma consisting of selective inhibition of the active conformation of the B-Raf, especially with V600E mutation [74]. Furthermore, dabrafenib and encorafenib are also used in the therapy of cancers with several other mutated forms of B-Raf, e.g., V600K-mutated melanomas and V600K/D-mutated melanoma, respectively. The B-Raf inhibitors are characterized by high response rates, a mild, manageable toxicity profile and improved progression-free survival (PFS) as compared with chemotherapy, but their use is limited by the rapid development of resistance [75]. Encorafenib is distinguished among the other second-generation B-Raf kinase inhibitors by increasing its inhibitory effect with a shorter off-rate [76]. Currently, monotherapy with B-Raf inhibitor for the treatment of BRAF-mutated melanoma is subsequently replaced by combination therapy with B-Raf and MEK inhibitors, which target key enzymes in the MAPK signaling pathway (RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK). The approved combination of active anticancer ingredients, such as vemurafenib plus cobimetinib, dabrafenib plus trametinib or encorafenib plus binimetinib, is a more effective therapy than B-Raf inhibitor monotherapy and is recommended as a first-line therapeutic option in treating melanoma [77]. What is more, encorafenib and binimetinib combination therapy is already ongoing clinical development for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). Selumetinib, the next inhibitor of MEK 1 and 2, is approved in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 and inoperable plexiform neurofibromas. The long-term treatment with selumetinib has meaningful benefits, such as a high level of clinical response and absence of cumulative toxic effects [78].
In 2020, the combination of encorafenib and monoclonal antibody (cetuximab) received its first approval for treating metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) [79]. CRC can also be treated with regorafenib, which is an inhibitor of VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3, tunica interna endothelial cell kinase 2 (TIE2), PDGFRB, c-Kit, FGFR1, RET, RAF proto-oncogene serine/threonine-protein kinase (RAF-1) and B-Raf, including wild-type B-Raf and B-Raf V600E [80]. The inhibitor possesses antiangiogenic activity due to the inhibition of TIE2. Moreover, it has anticancer activity against gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), hepatocellular carcinoma and is ongoing clinical development for various malignant tumors. Another two drugs, which were approved in 2020 for GIST, are avapritinib and ripretinib. They inhibit mast/stem cell growth factor receptor (c-Kit) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRA). Avapritinib is a therapy only for GIST harboring a PDGFRA exon 18 mutations, including PDGFRA D842V mutations, whereas ripretinib inhibits wild-type c-Kit and PDGFRA mutations, as well as multiple primary and secondary resistance mutations in GIST [81]. Ripretinib is an appropriate treatment for patients who were resistant to other approved tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as regorafenib or imatinib. The mechanism of its action involves durably binding to both the switch pocket in the intracellular juxtamembrane domain and the activation loop in the kinase domain to prevent from adopting an active state of kinase and locking it in the inactive conformation, thereby inhibiting cell proliferation [82].
A total of six drugs, which have been approved by the FDA since 2011 for thyroid cancer treatment, are antiangiogenic multi-kinase inhibitors, including vandetanib, cabozantinib and lenvatinib or mutation-specific inhibitors, including dabrafenib for BRAF-mutated anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC), larotrectinib for NTRK-fusion thyroid cancer and selpercatinib for RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). Vandetanib and cabozantinib are registered for the treatment of advanced MTC. The drugs inhibit EGF, RET and VEGF receptors or the MET, RET and VEGF receptors, respectively. Thus, their action involves blocking the sustaining proliferative signaling mediated by tyrosine kinase receptors, angiogenesis and apoptosis. Cabozantinib, due to downregulation of the MET pathway, may prevent invasiveness and metastatic spread of cancer cells and the development of acquired resistance. Hence, it induces more prolonged clinical responses than those to other TKIs. What is more, it displays stronger antiangiogenic activity than vandetanib [83]. However, the use of cabozantinib and vandetanib is at least partially limited by their adverse events. In contrast, next-generation drug selpercatinib, which is a highly potent and selective RET inhibitor, shows durable efficacy with a more satisfactory safety profile [84]. The first FDA-approved treatment for patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinomas (ATCs), a highly aggressive and undifferentiated cancer, is dabrafenib (B-Raf inhibitor) plus trametinib (MEK inhibitor). This dual inhibition improves overall response frequency and achieves better clinical results compared with B-Raf inhibitor monotherapy [85].
Larotrectinib is a highly selective TRK inhibitor that was developed for the therapy for cancers with a neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase (NTRK) gene fusion in adults and children [86]. All patients undergoing the larotrectinib treatment were characterized by advanced solid tumors, including salivary gland tumors, infantile fibrosarcoma, thyroid cancer, NSCLC and other cancers. Larotrectinib also has potential efficacy against CNS tumors because of its ability to cross the blood–brain barrier [87]. The only other registered TRK inhibitor apart from larotrectinib is entrectinib, with activity against ALK, TRK and ROS1. In clinical trials, responses to entrectinib treatment were observed in the following diseases: NSCLC, mammary analog secretory carcinoma (MASC), colorectal cancer, melanoma, glioneuronal tumor and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) [88]. Lenvatinib is also used in therapy for RCC, as well as radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC), hepatocellular carcinoma and endometrial cancer. The inhibitor targets VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3, FGFR1-3, RET, mast/stem cell growth factor receptor (c-Kit) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRB), thereby resulting in broad spectrum of direct antitumor activity and significant antiangiogenic effects [89]. Another drug for RCC is axitinib, which is approved for monotherapy in the second-line treatment and in combination with pembrolizumab or avelumab for first-line therapy [90][91]. It inhibits both proliferation and angiogenesis through blocking receptors, such as c-Kit and PDGFR on the one hand, and proangiogenic receptors VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 on the other. Axitinib has demonstrated promising activity in other solid tumors as well, including metastatic breast cancer, advanced NSCLC, pancreatic and thyroid cancers [92].
Table 3. Features of the multi-kinase inhibitors approved as drugs by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 2011 to 2022. The order of drugs is tabulated in order of most recent to oldest registration date. A generic name of a drug is an international nonproprietary name (INN).
No. Generic Name of Drug Brand Name
and Company
First FDA/EMA Approval Date Structure Molecular Target Route of Administration Indication Adverse Effects Ref.
1 Ripretinib QINLOCK Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Waltham, MA, USA FDA:
15 May 2020
EMA:
18 November 2021
Molecules 27 02259 i015 c-Kit 1, PDGFRA 2 Oral Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Alopecia, fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, myalgia, diarrhea, decreased appetite, palmar–plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome, vomiting [93][94]
2 Selpercatinib RETEVMO
Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA
FDA:
8 May 2020
EMA:
11 February 2021
Molecules 27 02259 i016 RET 3 Oral Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Thyroid Cancer Increased AST levels, increased glucose levels, decreased albumin levels, decreased leukocyte levels, decreased calcium levels, increased creatinine levels, dry mouth, diarrhea, increased alkaline phosphatase levels, hypertension, fatigue, decreased platelet levels, edema, increased total cholesterol levels, decreased sodium levels, rash, constipation, decreased magnesium levels, increased potassium levels, increased bilirubin levels, headache, decreased glucose levels, nausea, abdominal pain, cough, prolonged QT interval, dyspnea, vomiting, hemorrhage [95][96]
3 Selumetinib KOSELUGO AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK FDA:
13 April 2020
EMA:
17 June 2021
Molecules 27 02259 i017 MEK1 4, MEK2 5 Oral Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Vomiting, rash, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, dry skin, musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, pyrexia, stomatitis, acneiform rash, headache, paronychia, pruritus, dermatitis, constipation, hair changes, epistaxis, hematuria, proteinuria, decreased appetite, decreased cardiac ejection fraction, edema, sinus tachycardia, skin infection [97][98]
4 Avapritinib AYVAKIT Blueprint Medicines Corporation, Cambridge, MA, USA FDA:
9 January 2020
EMA:
24 September 2020
Molecules 27 02259 i018 c-Kit 1, PDGFRA 2 Oral Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Edema, nausea, fatigue/asthenia, cognitive impairment, vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, increased lacrimation, abdominal pain [99][100]
5 Entrectinib ROZLYTREK Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA FDA:
15 August 2019
EMA:
31 July 2020
Molecules 27 02259 i019 TRK 6, ROS1 7, ALK 8 Oral Solid Tumors, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Dysgeusia, fatigue, dizziness, constipation, nausea, diarrhea, increased weight, paresthesia, increased blood creatinine, myalgia, peripheral edema, vomiting, anemia, arthralgia, increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST) [101][102]
6 Pexidartinib TURALIO
Daiichi Sankyo, Tokyo, Japan
FDA:
2 August 2019
EMA:
Not approved
Molecules 27 02259 i020 CSF1R 9, c-Kit 1, FLT3 10 Oral Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor Hair color changes (depigmentation), fatigue, increased AST, increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT), dysgeusia, vomiting, periorbital edema, abdominal pain, decreased appetite, pruritus, hypertension, increased alkaline phosphatase [103][104]
7 Erdafitinib BALVERSA Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Raritan (HQ), NJ, USA FDA:
12 April 2019
EMA:
Not approved
Molecules 27 02259 i021 FGFRs 11 (1, 2, 3, 4) Oral Urothelial Carcinoma Increased phosphate levels, stomatitis, fatigue, diarrhea, dry mouth, onycholysis, decreased appetite, dysgeusia, dry skin, dry eye, alopecia, palmar–plantar erythrodysaesthesia syndrome, constipation, abdominal pain, nausea, musculoskeletal pain

[72]

8 Larotrectinib VITRAKVI
Loxo Oncology, Inc., Stamford, CT, USA
FDA:
26 November 2018
EMA:
19 September 2019
Molecules 27 02259 i022 TRK 6 Oral TRK Fusion Cancers Fatigue, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, anemia, increased transaminase levels, cough, constipation, diarrhea [105][106]
9 Lorlatinib LORBRENA Pfizer Inc., New York City, NY, USA FDA:
2 November 2018
EMA:
6 May 2019
Molecules 27 02259 i023 ALK 8, ROS1 7 Oral Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, edema, peripheral neuropathy [107][108]
10 Dacomitinib VIZIMPRO
Pfizer Inc., New York City, NY, USA
FDA:
27 September 2018
EMA:
2 April 2019
Molecules 27 02259 i024 EGFR 12, HER2 13, HER4 14 Oral Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Diarrhea, paronychia, dermatitis acneiform, stomatitis, decreased appetite [109][110]
11 Encorafenib BRAFTOVI
Pfizer Inc., New York City, NY, USA
FDA:
27 June 2018
EMA:
20 September 2018
Molecules 27 02259 i025 B-Raf 15 Oral Melanoma Metastatic, Colorectal Cancer Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, arthralgia [111][112]
12 Binimetinib MEKTOVI
Array BioPharma Inc., Boulder, CO, USA
FDA:
27 June 2018
EMA:
20 September 2018
Molecules 27 02259 i026 MEK1 4, MEK2 5 Oral Melanoma Metastatic Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, arthralgia

[111][113]

13 Brigatinib ALUNBRIG Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.,
Deerfield, IL, USA
FDA:
28 April 2017
EMA:
22 November 2018
Molecules 27 02259 i027 ALK 8, EGFR 12 Oral Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, cough, headache, CPK elevation, pancreatic enzyme elevation, hyperglycemia [114][115]
14 Alectinib ALECENSA Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA FDA:
11 December 2015
EMA:
16 February 2017
Molecules 27 02259 i028 ALK 8 Oral Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Constipation, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, edema, increased levels of bilirubin, AST and ALT, myalgia, rash, anemia, increase in bodyweight [116][117]
15 Cobimetinib COTELLIC Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA FDA:
10 November 2015:
EMA:
20 November 2015.
Molecules 27 02259 i029 MEK1 4, MEK2 5 Oral Melanoma Metastatic Diarrhea, nausea, rash, arthralgia, fatigue, increased creatine phosphokinase levels [118][119]
16 Lenvatinib LENVIMA
Eisai Inc., Tokyo, Japan, U.S. Corporate Headquarters in Nutley, NJ, USA
FDA:
13 February 2015
EMA:
28 May 2015
Molecules 27 02259 i030 VEGFRs 16 (1, 2, 3), FGFR 11 (1, 2, 3, 4), PDGFRA 2, RET 3, c-Kit 1 Oral Thyroid Cancer, Renal Cell Carcinoma, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Endometrial Cancer Hypertension, diarrhea, fatigue or asthenia, decreased appetite, bodyweight decreased, nausea, stomatitis, palmar–plantar erythrodysethaesia syndrome, proteinuria [120][121]
17 Afatinib GILOTRIF Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ingelheim, Germany FDA:
12 July 2013
EMA:
25 September 2013
Molecules 27 02259 i031 EGFR 12, HER2 13, HER4 14 Oral Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Diarrhea, rash/acne, stomatitis/mucositis, paronychia, dry skin, decreased appetite, pruritus, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, epistaxis, cheilitis [122][123]
18 Trametinib MEKINIST GlaxoSmithKline, London, UK FDA:
29 May 2013
EMA:
30 June 2014
Molecules 27 02259 i032 MEK1 4, MEK2 5 Oral Melanoma, Metastatic, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Thyroid Cancer Rash, diarrhea, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, peripheral edema [124][125]
19 Dabrafenib TAFINLAR GlaxoSmithKline, London, UK FDA:
29 May 2013
EMA:
26 August 2013
Molecules 27 02259 i033 B-Raf 15 Oral Melanoma, Metastatic, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Thyroid Cancer Alopecia, arthralgia, back pain, constipation, cough, erythrodysaesthesia, fever, headache, hyperkeratosis, muscle pain, nasopharyngitis, papilloma, squamous cell cancer [126][127]
20 Cabozantinib CABOMETYX Exelixis, Inc., Alameda, CA, USA FDA:
25 April 2016
EMA:
9 September 2016
Molecules 27 02259 i034 MET 17, RET 3, VEGFRs 16 (1, 2, 3), c-Kit 1, FLT-3 10, TIE2 18, TRKB 19, AXL 20 Oral Renal Cell Carcinoma, Hepatocellular Carcinoma Diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, hypertension, palmar–plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome [128][129][130]
21 Cabozantinib COMETRIQ
Exelixis, Inc., Alameda, CA, USA
FDA:
29 November 2012
EMA:
21 March 2014
Molecules 27 02259 i035 MET 17, RET 3, VEGFRs 16 (1, 2, 3), c-Kit 1, FLT-3 10, TIE2 18, TRKB 19, AXL 20 Oral Thyroid Cancer Diarrhea, stomatitis, palmar–plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome, decreased weight, decreased appetite, nausea, fatigue, oral pain, hair color changes, dysgeusia, hypertension, abdominal pain, constipation, increased AST, increased ALT, lymphopenia, increased alkaline phosphatase, hypocalcemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, hypophosphatemia, and hyperbilirubinemia [131][132][133]
22 Regorafenib STIVARGA
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc., Whippany, NJ, USA
FDA:
27 September 2012
EMA:
26 August 2013
Molecules 27 02259 i036 VEGFRs 16 (1, 2, 3), RET 3, c-Kit 1, PDGFRs 21 (A, B), FGFRs 11 (1, 2), TIE2 18, B-Raf 15, RAF-1 22 Oral Colorectal Cancer, Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor, Hepatocellular Carcinoma Asthenia/fatigue, decreased appetite and food intake, hand-foot skin reaction, palmar–plantar erythrodysesthesia, diarrhea, mucositis, weight loss, infection, hypertension, dysphonia [134][135][136]
23 Axitinib INLYTA
Pfizer Inc., New York City, NY, USA
FDA:
27 January 2012
EMA:
3 September 2012
Molecules 27 02259 i037 VEGFRs 16 (1, 2, 3), c-Kit 1, PDGFRs 21 (A, B) Oral Renal Cell Carcinoma Diarrhea, hypertension, fatigue, decreased appetite, nausea, dysphonia, palmar–plantar erythrodysesthesia (hand-foot) syndrome, weight decreased, vomiting, asthenia, constipation [137][138][139]
24 Crizotinib XALKORI
Pfizer Inc., New York City, NY, USA
FDA:
26 August 2011
EMA:
23 October 2012
Molecules 27 02259 i038 ALK 8, MET 17, ROS1 7 Oral Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Vision disorders, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, edema, constipation, elevated transaminases, fatigue, decreased appetite, upper respiratory infection, dizziness, neuropathy [140][141][142]
25 Vemurafenib ZELBORAF Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA FDA:
17 August 2011
EMA:
17 February 2012
Molecules 27 02259 i039 B-Raf 15 Oral Melanoma Metastatic Arthralgia, rash, alopecia, fatigue, photosensitivity reaction, nausea, [143][144][145]
26 Vandetanib CAPRELSA AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK FDA:
6 April 2011
EMA:
17 February 2012
Molecules 27 02259 i040 VEGFR-2 23, EGFR 12, RET 3 Oral Thyroid Cancer Diarrhea, rash, nausea, hypertension, fatigue, headache, decreased appetite, acne, dermatitis acneiform, dry skin, photosensitivity reaction, erythema [146][147]
1 c-Kit: mast/stem cell growth factor receptor. 2 PDGFRA: platelet-derived growth factor receptor α. 3 RET: receptor tyrosine kinase rearranged during transfection. 4 MEK1: mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1. 5 MEK2: mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 2. 6 TRK: tropomyosin receptor tyrosine kinase. 7 ROS1: proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase ROS. 8 ALK: anaplastic lymphoma kinase. 9 CSF1R: colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor. 10 FLT3: FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3. 11 FGFRs: fibroblast growth factor receptors. 12EGFR: epidermal growth factor receptor. 13 HER2: human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. 14 HER4: human epidermal growth factor receptor 4. 15 B-Raf: serine/threonine-protein kinase B-Raf. 16 VEGFRs: vascular endothelial growth factor receptors. 17 MET: mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor. 18 TIE2: tunica interna endothelial cell kinase 2. 19 TRKB: tropomyosin receptor kinase B. 20 AXL: AXL receptor tyrosine kinase. 21 PDGFRs: platelet-derived growth factor receptors. 22 RAF-1: RAF proto-oncogene serine/threonine-protein kinase. 23 VEGFR-2: vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2.

This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/molecules27072259

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