Topic overview

Start with the big picture

The lesson surveys small-molecule kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, antibody–drug conjugates, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. It introduces the common “-nib” and “-mab” suffixes, then reviews representative agents by target and cancer type: BCR-ABL inhibitors in chronic myeloid leukemia; EGFR and ALK/ROS1 inhibitors in selected non-small cell lung cancers; and BRAF/MEK therapy in melanoma. Additional sections cover VEGF/VEGFR, HER2, CD20, CDK4/6, mTOR, PARP, and proteasome-directed treatments, alongside immune checkpoint blockers. Key adverse effects—including cardiac, pulmonary, hematologic, dermatologic, and vascular toxicities—are paired with biomarker-driven selection and resistance mechanisms.