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Proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis in cancer

Nature volume 411, pages 342–348 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Beneath the complexity and idiopathy of every cancer lies a limited number of 'mission critical' events that have propelled the tumour cell and its progeny into uncontrolled expansion and invasion. One of these is deregulated cell proliferation, which, together with the obligate compensatory suppression of apoptosis needed to support it, provides a minimal 'platform' necessary to support further neoplastic progression. Adroit targeting of these critical events should have potent and specific therapeutic consequences.

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Figure 1: Evolution of cancer is more complex than the straightforward linear accumulation of oncogenic mutations.
Figure 2: Activation of growth-deregulating lesions triggers 'sentinel' functions that guard the cell against acquiring mutations or propagating into an inappropriate somatic compartment.
Figure 3: Many stress signals encountered during tumour progression activate p53, resulting in apoptosis or growth arrest.
Figure 4: Growth deregulating lesions generate profound, diverse and cell-type specific pleiotropic changes in a cell and its surrounding.

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  1. UCSF Cancer Center, 2340 Sutter Street, San Francisco, 94143-0875, California, USA

    Gerard I. Evan

  2. NCI at Frederick, Building 560, West 7th Street, Frederick, 20842, Maryland, USA

    Karen H. Vousden

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Evan, G., Vousden, K. Proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis in cancer. Nature 411, 342–348 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35077213

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