The Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications of Protein Kinase Inhibitors in Cancer Therapy

Cancer currently stands as the second leading cause of death globally, posing a significant threat to human life and health. The inception and progression of cancer are highly intricate processes. Currently, surgery, radiotherapy, and pharmaceutical therapy represent the three primary strategies implemented in cancer treatment. Among these, pharmaceutical therapy is the most widely utilized. Compared to traditional chemotherapy drugs, targeted drugs possess superior attributes including improved targeting, increased efficacy, and fewer side effects. Protein kinase inhibitors typify one of these targeted drugs.

Protein kinases are enzymes that transfer phosphate groups onto the threonine, serine, or tyrosine residues of their target proteins, thereby modulating their activity. The function of these enzymes is crucial within cells and is strictly regulated as they drive cell proliferation, survival, and migration. Any imbalance in these enzymes could potentially be related to the emergence and progression of cancers. Consequently, protein kinase inhibitors are developed to specifically target and inhibit these enzymes, aiding in halting disease progression. These protein kinase inhibitors can be categorized into growth factor receptor inhibitors, Ras/Raf/Mek inhibitors, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, other targets, and drugs such as protein kinase C and 3-phosphoinositide dependent kinase 1, etc. Therefore, the development of novel protein kinase inhibitors has become a research strategy for targeted anti-cancer drugs.

This research topic delves into a comprehensive exploration of protein kinases, their metabolic pathways, and associated inhibitors. We also warmly welcome recent advances in the use of multiple protein kinase inhibitors in both anti-cancer research and therapy. As part of our mission, we aim to collate and summarize novel strategies and approaches to enhance cancer treatment. These contributions could provide valuable insights and references for cancer patients as well as researchers working in the field of oncology.

We welcome submissions of original research, reviews, and mini-review articles, but are not limited to the following topics:

• Comprehensive exploration of protein kinases and their metabolic pathways.
• Investigating the mechanisms associated with protein kinase inhibitors and mechanism-based design of novel protein kinase inhibitors.
• Recent advances in the development and functionality of multiple protein kinase inhibitors for cancer treatment with a keen eye on breast, liver, gastric, colon, skin, and ovarian cancers.