To cycle or not to cycle: a critical decision in cancer

Tumour cells undergo uncontrolled proliferation, yet tumours most often originate from adult tissues, in which most cells are quiescent. So, the proliferative advantage of tumour cells arises from their ability to bypass quiescence. This can be due to increased mitogenic signalling and/or alterations that lower the threshold required for cell-cycle commitment. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlie this commitment should provide important insights into how normal cells become tumorigenic and how new anticancer strategies can be devised.