A review on Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase inhibitors to outline the scopes of further advancements in the treatment of cancer

Abstract

In many B cell malignancies, Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), a non-receptor kinase, plays a significant role in oncogenic signaling that is essential for the proliferation and survival of leukemic cells. BTK works as a transducer in B cell receptor and other cell surface receptors. Hence they can drive the proliferation of cancerous cells through the B cell receptor (BCR) signaling pathway. So, BTK inhibitors can play an important role in the management of such malignant tumors. This review is comprised of an updated compilation of drugs that bind to BTK and make them unable to play their role in the BCR signaling pathway. BTK inhibitors that are available in the market are, Ibrutinib, Acalbrutinib, Zanubrutinib, Tirabrutinib, Orelabrutinib and Pirtobrutinib. Most of these drugs are not highly selective to BTK and can cause resistance. So, to overcome the problems caused by the existing BTK inhibitors, new drugs are needed to be developed. Some promising drugs are currently under clinical trial which may overcome these problems. They are Spebrutinib, Evobrutinib, Vecabrutinib and Fenebrutinib.