Cancer Inhibitors

Cancer inhibitors are medicines designed to slow or stop cancer cell growth by blocking specific signals, proteins, or pathways that cancer cells use to survive and multiply. Unlike traditional chemotherapy (which can affect many fast-growing cells), cancer inhibitors are often more targeted and are selected based on the cancer type and, in many cases, test results (biomarkers).

This category includes different types of inhibitor-based cancer treatments used in cancers such as breast cancer, lung cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, kidney cancer, liver cancer, and others, depending on the medicine and the patient’s treatment plan.

How cancer inhibitors work

Cancer cells often grow because of “switches” inside the cell that stay turned on. Cancer inhibitors help by:

• Blocking growth signals that tell cancer cells to divide
• Stopping cancer cells from repairing their DNA
• Reducing blood supply to tumors (in some cases)
• Slowing hormone-related growth (in selected cancers)

Common types of cancer inhibitors

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs)

Block growth signals used by certain cancers to spread.

CDK inhibitors

Help control abnormal cell division, commonly used in some breast cancers.

PARP inhibitors

Used in cancers with specific DNA-repair weaknesses (based on testing).

mTOR / PI3K inhibitors

Target pathways that control cell growth and survival.

Proteasome inhibitors

Used mainly in certain blood cancers like multiple myeloma.

Angiogenesis inhibitors

Help reduce the blood supply that tumors use to grow.

Where these medicines are commonly used

Cancer inhibitors are often used as part of a planned treatment approach, such as:

• When cancer has a specific target or mutation found on testing
• When cancer returns after earlier treatment
• Along with other treatments (like hormone therapy)