Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Medical Science) ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (6): 713-720.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2026.06.003

• Frontier review • Previous Articles    

Research progress in development of SHP2 inhibitors and their application in tumor therapy

Shen Yuxiao1, Li Xiaoguang1, Ba Qian2()   

  1. 1.Department of Food Hygiene and Nutrition, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 201318, China
    2.Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200071, China
  • Received:2025-09-12 Accepted:2026-02-08 Online:2026-06-28 Published:2026-06-29
  • Contact: Ba Qian E-mail:qba@shsmu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(82404934)

Abstract:

Src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP2), encoded by the PTPN11 gene, is an important molecule in the non-receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) family. It can regulate multiple core signaling pathways, including RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase (RAS/MAPK), phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT), Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT), and programmed cell death 1/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1). SHP2 affects the proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis of tumor cells, and plays an important role in mediating tumor drug resistance. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), SHP2 plays a key role in the regulation of immunosuppression. It can inhibit the activation and effector functions of T cells by participating in the downstream signal transduction of immune checkpoints, while also regulating the status of immune cells such as macrophages and promoting tumor immune escape. Given the dual roles of SHP2 in driving tumor growth and mediating immunosuppression, SHP2-targeted therapy has become a promising anti-tumor strategy. SHP2 inhibitors can not only inhibit the carcinogenic signaling pathways, but also effectively relieve the inhibition of SHP2 on T cells and reprogram the immune microenvironment, thus producing synergistic anti-tumor effects. At the same time, the combined application of SHP2 inhibitors with existing therapies also shows great potential in overcoming drug resistance and improving efficacy, which is an important direction in current tumor treatment research. Based on this, this review summarizes the biological functions and related signaling networks of SHP2, as well as its mechanisms in tumorigenesis and immune escape, and analyzes the research progress of SHP2-targeted drug development and the application prospects of combination treatment strategies, in order to provide new ideas and references for tumor treatment research.

Key words: Src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP2), tumor microenvironment (TME), immunotherapy

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