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Tiziana Tonini1, Christina Hillson, Pier Paolo Claudio
1Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Abstract:
The ultimate destiny of a cell to undergo division, differentiation, survival, and death results from an intricate balance between multiple regulators including oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and cell cycle associated proteins. Deregulation of the cell cycle machinery switches the phenotype from a normal cell to a cancerous cell. Fundamental alterations of tumor suppressor genes may result in an unregulated cell cycle with the accumulation of mutations and eventual neoplastic transformation. As such, one may define cancer as a genetic disease of the cell cycle. In this review, we will emphasize our current understanding of how the cell cycle machinery maintains cellular homeostasis by studying the consequences of its deregulation.
Insights
Cancer arises from a disrupted cell cycle balance. This review explores how cell cycle regulators maintain normal cell function and how their deregulation leads to cancer, defining cancer as a genetic disease of the cell cycle.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
- Oncology
Background:
- Cellular fate (division, differentiation, survival, death) depends on regulators like oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.
- Cell cycle machinery disruption transforms normal cells into cancerous ones.
- Altered tumor suppressor genes can lead to uncontrolled cell cycles, mutations, and neoplastic transformation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanisms of cell cycle regulation.
- To understand how cell cycle deregulation contributes to cancer.
- To define cancer as a genetic disease of the cell cycle.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of cell cycle regulation and cancer genetics.
- Analysis of the role of oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and cell cycle proteins.
- Examination of the consequences of cell cycle deregulation.
Main Results:
- Cell cycle machinery is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis.
- Deregulation of the cell cycle is a fundamental step in cancer development.
- Cancer is characterized by genetic alterations affecting cell cycle control.
Conclusions:
- The cell cycle is a critical determinant of cellular fate.
- Understanding cell cycle deregulation is key to understanding cancer.
- Targeting cell cycle pathways offers potential therapeutic strategies for cancer.