Definition

A tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting the oncoprotein c-Met (hepatocyte growth factor receptor; HGFR; MET) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), with potential anti-angiogenic and antineoplastic activities. Upon oral administration, kanitinib targets and binds to c-Met and VEGFR2, thereby disrupting c-Met- and VEGFR2-dependent signal transduction pathways. This may induce cell death in tumor cells overexpressing c-Met and/or VEGFR2 protein. c-Met and VEGFR2 are both overexpressed in many tumor cell types and play key roles in tumor cell proliferation, survival, invasion, metastasis, and tumor angiogenesis.