Definition

A family of proteins that are found on nerve cells. They are involved in cell signaling pathways that control cell growth, cell maturation, and cell survival. The genes that make the tropomyosin receptor kinase proteins may have mutations (changes) that cause abnormal tropomyosin receptor kinase proteins to be made. These abnormal proteins may be too active or found in higher than normal amounts on some types of cancer cells, which may cause cancer cells to grow. Drugs that block tropomyosin receptor kinase proteins are being used in the treatment of some types of cancer. Tropomyosin receptor kinase proteins are receptor tyrosine kinases. Also called TRK protein family.