Kinase inhibitors in cancer therapy.

Over the past few years, protein kinases have arisen as promising targets for therapeutic intervention in cancer therapy. This is due to a combination of several key events, including the identification of common kinase dysfunction in particular tumours and the recent success of such targeted kinase inhibitors as Gleevec (imatinib mesylate) and Iressa (Gefatinib). Ultimately, the success of this novel approach will be dependent on the careful identification and characterization of protein kinase dysregulation in particular forms of cancer. This review focuses on the function of protein kinases in normal cells, the mechanisms through which these kinases contribute to tumorigenesis, and the development and application of agents designed to inhibit dysfunctional kinases.