How Does Cancer Affect the Cell Cycle Through Cyclin/Cdks?

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SUMMARY

Cancer significantly disrupts the cell cycle by affecting cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks), leading to uncontrolled cell division. Specifically, cancer cells do not necessarily speed up individual phases of mitosis but rather increase the frequency of mitotic events. Defective cyclins and Cdks contribute to this phenomenon, allowing mitosis to occur repeatedly without regulation. These proteins are active throughout various phases of the cell cycle, particularly during interphase and mitosis, facilitating the progression of cancerous growth.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the cell cycle phases: G1, S, G2, and M phase
  • Knowledge of cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks)
  • Familiarity with cancer biology and its mechanisms
  • Basic concepts of mitosis and its regulation
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the role of specific cyclins and Cdks in cancer progression
  • Study the mechanisms of cell cycle regulation and checkpoints
  • Explore targeted cancer therapies that inhibit cyclin/Cdk activity
  • Learn about the differences in mitotic processes between normal and cancer cells
USEFUL FOR

Students studying cell biology, cancer researchers, and healthcare professionals interested in the molecular mechanisms of cancer and cell cycle regulation.

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Homework Statement



General questions about how cancer affects the cell cycle...

1) Does cancer actually speed up the individual phases of mitosis (prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase) ... ie metaphase occurs 100x sooner following prophase in a cancer cell compared to a normal cell? or does cancer just increase the number of times mitosis as a whole is performed?

2) Also, it seems that cyclins and cdks play a great role in cancer cells. From my understanding, the cyclin and/or cdk becomes defective and is used too much, causing mitosis to repeat without stop. Is this correct?

3) If I am correct in (2), is there a specific phase in the cell cycle where these cancer inducing cyclins and cdks are found? Are these cyclins and cdks only found in the interphase? Only in G1? Only in mitosis? Throughout all of interphase and mitosis? Only in G2? etc etc



Thanks!
 
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You have to show your attempts to receive help. This is a forum policy.
 
Borek said:
You have to show your attempts to receive help. This is a forum policy.

My attempt at understanding the question is actually meshed into my question above. I am aware of the 3 part guideline enforced on this forum but it is a little difficult to split my question and attempted understanding of it into two different blocks of words

Thanks!
 

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