Trk

The Trk (tropomyosin receptor kinase) family comprises three receptor tyrosine kinases, NTRK1 (TRKA), NTRK2 (TRKB) and NTRK3 (TRKC), so named for their initial co-purification with tropomyosin. Each contains extracellular immunoglobulin-like and leucine-rich repeat domains and binds a distinct neurotrophin: nerve growth factor activates TRKA, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and NT4/5 activate TRKB, and neurotrophin-3 preferentially activates TRKC. Trk signaling through Ras-MAPK, PI3K-AKT and PLCγ pathways governs neuronal survival, differentiation, synaptic plasticity and pain sensation. Chromosomal NTRK fusions, first recognized in colorectal and papillary thyroid carcinomas, occur at low frequency across many cancers and define a pan-tumor indication for the highly effective inhibitors larotrectinib and entrectinib.