Multiple molecular and pathway targets

The term Multiple molecular and pathway targets does not refer to a single, specific biological molecule, receptor, or enzyme. Instead, it is a collective designation used to describe drugs or therapeutic strategies that simultaneously engage several different molecular entities and signaling pathways (Hopkins, A. L., 2008, Nature Chemical Biology). This concept, known as polypharmacology, is particularly relevant in treating multifactorial diseases such as cancer, where targeting a single protein often results in the activation of compensatory pathways and drug resistance (Peters, J. U., 2013, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry). Many multi-kinase inhibitors, such as sunitinib or sorafenib, are categorized this way because they inhibit a broad spectrum of tyrosine kinases involved in tumor growth and angiogenesis (Wilhelm, S. M., et al., 2006, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery). Because this entry lacks a specific molecular identity or UniProt identifier, it is not considered a valid canonical target for precise drug-target interaction modeling. It serves primarily as a placeholder in clinical and pharmacological databases to indicate a broad or non-specific mechanism of action.

Other names

Multi-targetPolypharmacologyNetwork targetsNon-specific targets

Simultaneous modulation of multiple distinct molecular targets and signaling pathways to achieve a synergistic therapeutic effect (Hopkins, A. L., 2008, Nature Chemical Biology).