Clinical importance and potential use of small molecule inhibitors of focal adhesion kinase.

Since its first description Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK), a cytoplasmatic tyrosine kinase, has been implicated in the formation and progression of solid and liquid malignant tumors. Therefore orally available selective small molecule inhibitors of FAK have been developed, three of them (PF-562-271, PF-04554878 and GSK2256098) are already in clinical testing. This review discusses the recent data obtained from these Phase 1 trials. We also discuss available data on the mechanisms of action of these inhibitors in carcinogenesis and demonstrate that FAK plays an important role in neoangiogenesis which is a crucial step in cancer growth.