Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Studying Cell Cycle-regulated Gene Expression by Two Complementary Cell Synchronization Protocols
Published on: June 6, 2017
Progressive derailment of cell cycle regulators in endometrial carcinogenesis
N Horrée1, P J van Diest, P van der Groep
1Department of Surgical Gynecology and Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Background:
Derailments of the control mechanisms of the cell cycle can initiate carcinogenesis, and play a role in progression to cancer.
Aim:
To explore the expression of cell cycle proteins in normal, premalignant and malignant endometrial lesions representing the morphologically well defined stepwise model of human endometrial carcinogenesis
Methods:
Observational study. Paraffin-embedded specimens from inactive endometrium (n = 16), endometrial hyperplasia (n = 23) and endometrioid endometrial carcinoma (n = 39) were stained immunohistochemically for cyclin A, cyclin B1, cyclin D1, cyclin E, cdk2, p16, p21, p27, p53 and Ki67(MIB-1)). Differences in expression between the tissues, and correlation with classical prognostic factors for the carcinomas were analysed.
Results:
Expression of cyclin A and Ki67 gradually increased from normal through hyperplasia to carcinoma, indicating that proliferation increases over the carcinogenetic spectrum. cdk2, p16 and p21 gradually increased from normal through hyperplasia to carcinoma, indicating their potential importance in both early and late carcinogenesis. Cyclin D1, cyclin E and p53 especially increased and p27 decreased from hyperplasia to carcinoma, underlining their role in late carcinogenesis. In cancers, expression of cyclin A, p53 and Ki67 was positively correlated to grade, and cyclin A was positively correlated with cdk2, p21, Ki67, cyclin E and p53.
Conclusion:
During (endometrioid) endometrial carcinogenesis, there is increasing proliferation paralleled by progressive derailment of cyclin B1, cyclin D1, cyclin E, p16, p21, p27, p53, and cdk2, indicating the importance of these cell cycle regulators in endometrial carcinogenesis.
Related Concept Videos
Negative Regulator Molecules
Positive Regulator Molecules
Positive Regulator Molecules
Molecular Factors Affecting Cell Division
Several proteins function as internal regulators to ensure each cell cycle stage is completed faithfully before proceeding to the next. Regulator molecules may act directly or influence the activity or production of other...
The Cell Cycle Control System
Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) are the primary cell cycle regulators and function at the cell...
The Cell Cycle Control System