Disruption of RTKs can have profound effects on cellular and organismal health. In particular, aberrant activation of RTKs is a hallmark of many cancers. Toxicants that modulate RTK activity can either exacerbate or mitigate these effects, depending on whether they enhance or inhibit signaling. For example, blocking the overactive RTKs in cancer cells can be beneficial, while inhibiting RTKs in normal cells can lead to detrimental effects such as impaired growth and immune dysfunction.
