Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Detection of Targetable Alterations in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer using Next-generation Sequencing
05:17

Detection of Targetable Alterations in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer using Next-generation Sequencing

Published on: October 10, 2025

416

Targets for cancer therapy in the cell cycle pathway

R N Rao1

  • 1Division of Cancer Research, Lilly Research Laboratories, Indianapolis, IN 46285-0424, USA.

Current Opinion in Oncology
|November 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

The p16-cyclin D1-CDK4-pRb pathway is crucial in cancer. This review explores its proteins as drug targets and discusses combination therapies for cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cell cycle progression is tightly regulated by numerous proteins.
  • The p16-cyclin D1-CDK4-retinoblastoma protein (pRb) pathway is frequently altered in various cancers.
  • Understanding these regulatory proteins is key to advancing cancer therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review key proteins within the p16-cyclin D1-CDK4-pRb pathway.
  • To identify novel drug discovery opportunities targeting this pathway.
  • To discuss guidelines for evaluating protein targets and the role of combination therapy in cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of the p16-cyclin D1-CDK4-pRb pathway.
  • Analysis of protein functions in cell cycle regulation.
  • Evaluation of therapeutic targets and combination strategies.

Main Results:

  • Several proteins in the p16-cyclin D1-CDK4-pRb pathway present promising opportunities for cancer drug discovery.
  • Guidelines for assessing the relevance of these proteins as therapeutic targets were discussed.
  • The importance of combination therapies targeting multiple pathways was highlighted.

Conclusions:

  • The p16-cyclin D1-CDK4-pRb pathway is a significant focus for cancer research and drug development.
  • Targeting specific proteins in this pathway offers potential for new cancer treatments.
  • Combination therapies may enhance treatment efficacy by addressing pathway complexity.

More Related Videos

Testing Targeted Therapies in Cancer using Structural DNA Alteration Analysis and Patient-Derived Xenografts10:27

Testing Targeted Therapies in Cancer using Structural DNA Alteration Analysis and Patient-Derived Xenografts

Published on: July 25, 2020

8.0K
Anticancer Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy with Lung Cancer-Targeted Nanoparticles08:03

Anticancer Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy with Lung Cancer-Targeted Nanoparticles

Published on: December 1, 2016

9.5K

Related Concept Videos

What is the Cell Cycle?01:04

What is the Cell Cycle?

The cell cycle refers to the sequence of events occurring throughout a typical cell’s life. In eukaryotic cells, the somatic cell cycle has two stages: interphase and the mitotic phase. During interphase, the cell grows, performs its basic metabolic functions, copies its DNA, and prepares for mitotic cell division. Then, during mitosis and cytokinesis, the cell divides its nuclear and cytoplasmic materials, respectively. This generates two daughter cells that are identical to the original...
243.2K
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
8.9K
Cancer Therapies02:49

Cancer Therapies

Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
10.2K
C4 Pathway and CAM01:27

C4 Pathway and CAM

Most plants use the C3 pathway for carbon fixation. However, some plants, such as sugar cane, corn, and cacti that grow in hot conditions, use alternative pathways to fix carbon and conserve energy loss due to photorespiration. Photorespiration is the process that occurs when the oxygen concentration is high. Under such conditions, the rubisco enzyme in the Calvin cycle binds O2 instead of CO2, which halts photosynthesis and consumes energy.
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
49.2K
What is the Cell Cycle?00:56

What is the Cell Cycle?

The cell cycle refers to the sequence of events occurring throughout a typical cell’s life. In eukaryotic cells, the somatic cell cycle has two stages: the interphase and the mitotic phase. During interphase, the cell grows, performs its basic metabolic functions, copies its DNA, and prepares for mitotic cell division. Then, during mitosis and cytokinesis, the cell divides its nuclear and cytoplasmic materials, respectively. This generates two daughter cells that are identical to the...
10.6K
The Cell Cycle Control System01:28

The Cell Cycle Control System

The cell cycle regulation directs how a cell proceeds from one phase to the next and begins mitosis. The cell cycle control system includes intracellular regulatory molecules and external triggers. They provide "stop" or "advance" signals and operate at specific cell cycle stages termed checkpoints to ensure that a particular process is completed before the cell advances to the next phase.
Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) are the primary cell cycle regulators and...
5.6K