Is dasatinib a targeted drug? How does it work through targeted therapy?

Dasatinib is a targeted drug that is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). It exerts anti-tumor effects by targeting and inhibiting a variety of cancer-related tyrosine kinases, especially BCR-ABL, SRC family kinases, c-Kit, etc. Dasatinib was originally a targeted therapy drug used to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). It has strong ability to inhibit tumor cell proliferation and resist metastasis.

Dasatinib binds to the ATP binding site of the BCR-ABL fusion protein, inhibits its kinase activity, and prevents the proliferation and growth of leukemia cells. BCR-ABLfusion protein is a common pathogenic factor in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Dasatinib can effectively inhibit the function of this fusion protein, thereby inhibiting the spread and growth of leukemia cells. Compared with other targeted drugs, dasatinib has a stronger anti-leukemia effect and can play a role in drug-resistant CML patients.

In addition to acting onBCR-ABL, dasatinib also inhibits the tyrosine kinases of multiple cell surface receptors. For example, it can inhibit SRC family kinases, which play an important role in the development of various cancers. By inhibiting SRC family kinases, dasatinib can block the invasion and metastasis of tumor cells, which is also its potential effect in the treatment of other tumors (such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, certain solid tumors, etc.).

As a targeted drug, dasatinib can accurately locate the growth signaling pathways of cancer cells and reduce the impact on normal cells, thereby reducing the negative impact on patients' health during treatment. However, like all targeted drugs, dasatinib may also cause certain side effects, such as edema, fatigue, abnormal liver function, etc. Therefore, the use of dasatinib needs to be done under the guidance of a professional doctor, and the patient's physical condition must be regularly monitored to ensure its therapeutic effect and safety.

Reference materials:https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB01254