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Updated: Jan 16, 2026

Through the Looking Glass: Time-lapse Microscopy and Longitudinal Tracking of Single Cells to Study Anti-cancer Therapeutics
Published on: May 14, 2016
Targeting the cell-cycle machinery for cancer therapy
Yunhua Peng1, Jiejing Liu2, Hiroyuki Inuzuka3
1Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China; School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.
Abstract:
The cell cycle is governed by tightly regulated checkpoints and proteogenomic oscillations that ensure genomic fidelity during cell proliferation. Dysregulation of the cell cycle can drive oncogenic transformation, and this positions it as a pivotal target in precision oncology. Recent advances reveal how proteomic and post-translational dynamics orchestrate cell-cycle phase transitions that are aberrantly disrupted in cancers. Therapeutic targeting of the CDK4/6 represents a cornerstone of cancer therapy, but resistance mechanisms limit its clinical efficacy. Emerging strategies such as targeted protein degradation, synthetic lethality, and combination immunotherapies further expand the therapeutic window. These innovations, coupled with biomarker-driven precision medicine, exploit cell-cycle vulnerabilities and transform them into an active tool to combat human cancers more effectively. This review highlights emerging mechanistic insights underlying tumorigenesis driven by an aberrant cell cycle and proposes potential therapeutics aimed at cell-cycle machinery-relevant targets.
Insights
Cell cycle dysregulation drives cancer. New therapies targeting cell cycle vulnerabilities, including CDK4/6 inhibitors and protein degradation, offer precision oncology strategies to combat cancer effectively.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The cell cycle is crucial for genomic stability during cell proliferation.
- Dysregulation of cell cycle checkpoints and proteogenomic oscillations can lead to oncogenic transformation.
- The cell cycle is a key target in precision oncology due to its role in cancer development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review emerging mechanistic insights into cell cycle dysregulation in tumorigenesis.
- To highlight novel therapeutic strategies targeting cell cycle machinery.
- To discuss the role of proteomic and post-translational dynamics in cancer therapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent advances in cell cycle research.
- Analysis of proteomic and post-translational modifications in cell cycle regulation.
- Exploration of emerging therapeutic strategies like targeted protein degradation and synthetic lethality.
Main Results:
- Aberrant cell cycle phase transitions, orchestrated by proteomic and post-translational dynamics, are disrupted in cancers.
- Targeting CDK4/6 is a cornerstone therapy, but resistance is a significant challenge.
- Emerging strategies and biomarker-driven approaches enhance therapeutic efficacy against cell cycle vulnerabilities.
Conclusions:
- Understanding cell cycle aberrations provides critical insights into tumorigenesis.
- Novel therapeutics targeting cell cycle machinery hold promise for effective cancer treatment.
- Precision medicine approaches exploiting cell cycle vulnerabilities are transforming cancer therapy.
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