Small-molecule drug

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ONC-007827",
  "term": "Small-molecule drug",
  "field": "Oncology and biomedicine",
  "definition": "A drug that can enter cells easily because it has a low molecular weight. Once inside the cells, it can affect other molecules, such as proteins, and may cause cancer cells to die. This is different from drugs that have a large molecular weight, which keeps them from getting inside cells easily. Many targeted therapies are small-molecule drugs.",
  "references": [
    "NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/oncology/small-molecule-drug/"
}