How Does Cell Cycle Dysregulation Contribute to Cancer?
The cell cycle is a series of stages that a cell goes through to grow and divide. It is tightly regulated by checkpoints and proteins such as cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). In cancer, mutations in genes that control these regulators can lead to the loss of cell cycle control, allowing cells to proliferate uncontrollably. For example, mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene can prevent the cell from undergoing apoptosis in response to DNA damage, leading to uncontrolled growth.
