TNK2

Overview

TNK2 (tyrosine kinase non-receptor 2, also known as ACK1) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that integrates signals from activated cell-surface receptors and promotes cell survival and proliferation. In oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), TNK2 shows copy gain with high gene expression, nominating it as a candidate therapeutic target in a subset of tumors.

Alterations observed in the corpus

  • Copy gain with high mRNA expression in 17% (6/35) of OSCC tumors; nominated as a candidate therapeutic target PMID:23619168.

Cancer types (linked)

  • OSCC: Copy gain with concurrent high expression in 17% of tumors; part of the targetable kinase landscape in oral squamous cell carcinoma PMID:23619168.

Co-occurrence and mutual exclusivity

  • Collectively, SRC-family kinases (SRC, LYN, YES1) were altered in 29% (10/35) of the same OSCC cohort, suggesting a broader kinase amplification context PMID:23619168.

Therapeutic relevance

  • 80% of OSCC tumors in the cohort harbored at least one alteration in a gene that is an established cancer therapeutic target; TNK2/ACK1 inhibitors are in development and the copy gain-plus-high-expression criterion was used to identify candidates PMID:23619168.

Open questions

  • Whether TNK2 copy gain with high expression predicts response to ACK1 inhibitors in OSCC has not been clinically validated PMID:23619168.

Sources

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