c-Kit

C-KIT, also known as CD117, is a receptor tyrosine kinase that plays a vital role in cell signal transduction, impacting cellular processes such as proliferation, survival, and differentiation. It is primarily expressed on the surface of hematopoietic stem cells, mast cells, and other cell types. C-KIT binds to its ligand, stem cell factor (SCF), which triggers a cascade of signaling events promoting cell growth and development. Mutations and overexpression of C-KIT are associated with various forms of cancer, including gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and certain leukemias. Consequently, C-KIT is a significant target for cancer therapies, with inhibitors like imatinib effectively used to treat tumors driven by C-KIT abnormalities.