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Mitotic checkpoint defects: en route to cancer and drug resistance

Sinjini Sarkar1,2, Pranab Kumar Sahoo1, Sutapa Mahata1

  • 1Department of Pathology and Cancer Screening, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, 37, S.P. Mukherjee Road, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700026, India.

Chromosome Research : an International Journal on the Molecular, Supramolecular and Evolutionary Aspects of Chromosome Biology
|January 7, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Mitotic checkpoint defects can lead to cancer and drug resistance, but recent findings question their direct role. Further research is exploring this pathway for improved cancer treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Malignant cells often exhibit dysregulated mitosis, leading to inaccurate chromosome segregation and aneuploidy.
  • The mitotic checkpoint ensures faithful chromosome transmission, and its defects are linked to cancer development and drug resistance.
  • Existing research presents contradictory findings regarding the direct role of mitotic checkpoint defects in carcinogenesis and drug resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss the role of faulty checkpoint signaling in cancer development.
  • To explore the contribution of mitotic checkpoint defects to drug resistance in cancer treatment.
  • To review the latest research on the mitotic checkpoint pathway for improved cancer therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research findings.
  • Analysis of studies investigating mitotic checkpoint function in cancer.
  • Examination of data on drug resistance mechanisms related to the mitotic checkpoint.

Main Results:

  • Defects in the mitotic checkpoint can result in aneuploidy, a hallmark of cancer.
  • Mitotic slippage and senescence, even with an active checkpoint, contribute to drug resistance.
  • Contradictory evidence necessitates a re-evaluation of the direct causal link between checkpoint defects and adverse outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Faulty mitotic checkpoint signaling may contribute to cancer development and drug resistance, but its precise role is complex and debated.
  • Further investigation into the nuances of mitotic checkpoint function is crucial for understanding cancer progression.
  • Exploring novel therapeutic strategies targeting the mitotic checkpoint pathway holds promise for enhancing cancer treatment outcomes.
Keywords:
CarcinogenesisDrug resistanceMicrotubule targeting agentsMitotic checkpointSpindle assembly checkpoint

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