Kinase inhibitors: Opportunities for small molecule anticancer immunotherapies

Ava Safaroghli-Azar; Fatemeh Emadi; Jimma Lenjisa; Laychiluh Mekonnen; Shudong Wang

doi:10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103525

Kinase inhibitors: Opportunities for small molecule anticancer immunotherapies

Drug Discov Today. 2023 May;28(5):103525. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103525. Epub 2023 Mar 11.

Authors

Ava Safaroghli-Azar¹, Fatemeh Emadi¹, Jimma Lenjisa¹, Laychiluh Mekonnen¹, Shudong Wang²

Affiliations

¹ Drug Discovery and Development, University of South Australia, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, SA 5000, Australia.
² Drug Discovery and Development, University of South Australia, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, SA 5000, Australia. Electronic address: shudong.wang@unisa.edu.au.

PMID: 36907320
DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103525

Abstract

As the fifth pillar of cancer treatment, immunotherapy has dramatically changed the paradigm of therapeutic strategies by focusing on the host's immune system. In the long road of immunotherapy development, the identification of immune-modulatory effects for kinase inhibitors opened a new chapter in this therapeutic approach. These small molecule inhibitors not only directly eradicate tumors by targeting essential proteins of cell survival and proliferation but can also drive immune responses against malignant cells. This review summarizes the current standings and challenges of kinase inhibitors in immunotherapy, either as a single agent or in a combined modality.

Keywords: anti-tumor immunity; checkpoint inhibitors; immunotherapy; kinase inhibitors; small molecule inhibitors.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Immunotherapy
Neoplasms* / drug therapy