Savolitinib: A Promising Targeting Agent for Cancer

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Savolitinib is a highly specific inhibitor of the MET tyrosine kinase. Both preclinical and clinical studies have shown its potential as a treatment for various cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as well as breast, head and neck, colorectal, gastric, pancreatic, and other gastrointestinal cancers. It can be used as a standalone treatment for NSCLC patients with MET mutations and in combination with EGFR inhibitors for those who have developed resistance. Moreover, it is being investigated as a neoadjuvant therapy. Furthermore, savolitinib has demonstrated efficacy in gastric cancer and may be effective in combination therapy. Additionally, it has shown effectiveness in treating renal cancer and other gastrointestinal cancers. ABSTRACT: Savolitinib is a highly selective small molecule inhibitor of the mesenchymal epithelial transition factor (MET) tyrosine kinase, primarily developed for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with MET mutations. It is also being investigated as a treatment for breast, head and neck, colorectal, gastric, pancreatic, and other gastrointestinal cancers. In both preclinical and clinical studies, it has demonstrated efficacy in lung, kidney, and stomach cancers. Savolitinib is an oral anti-cancer medication taken as a 600 mg dose once daily. It can be used as a monotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer with MET mutations and in combination with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors for patients who have developed resistance to them. Furthermore, savolitinib has shown positive results in gastric cancer treatment, particularly in combination with docetaxel. As a result, this review aims to validate its efficacy in NSCLC and suggests its potential application in other gastrointestinal cancers, such as pancreatic cancer, based on related research in gastric and renal cancer.