The NTRK, neurotrophin receptor tyrosine kinase gene encodes the tropomyosin receptor kinase.
Tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), also known as tyrosine receptor kinase B, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NTRK2 gene.
TrkB is a receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).
Gene location chromosome 9 for NTRK2Genomic location for NTRK2.
Tropomyosin receptor kinase B is the high affinity receptor for several neurotrophins.
Neurotropins are small protein growth factors that induce the survival and differentiation of distinct cell populations.
The neurotrophins that activate Tropomyosin receptor kinase B are: BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor), neurotrophin-4 (NT-4), and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3).
TrkB mediates the multiple effects of neurotrophic factors: neuronal differentiation and survival.
The TrkB receptor is part of the large family of receptor tyrosine kinases: an enzyme which is capable of adding a phosphate group to certain tyrosines on target proteins, or substrates.
A receptor tyrosine kinase is located at the cellular membrane, and is activated by binding of a ligand to the receptor’s extracellular domain.
TrkB is part of a sub-family of protein kinases which includes also TrkA and TrkC.
The Trk family has a role in human cancers because of the identification of NTRK1 (TrkA), NTRK2 (TrkB) and NTRK3 (TrkC) gene fusions and other oncogenic alterations in a number of tumors.
Trk inhibitors have shown early promise in shrinking human tumors.
Entrectinib has potential antitumor activity.
Entrectinib is a selective pan-trk receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) targeting gene fusions in trkA, trkB, and trkC.
TRK Inhibition-related adverse effects include: weight gain, dizziness, and withdrawal pain .