Novel drugs targeting the cell cycle

Abstract

Uncontrolled proliferation is a hallmark of cancer cells. Over the past two decades it has become increasingly clear that the molecules, which directly control cell cycle progression, accumulate defects during tumourogenesis. These defects can result in the loss of checkpoint control and/or the inappropriate activation of the ‘drivers’ of cell cycle progression, the cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks). Misregulation of cdk function occurs with high frequency in major solid tumour types (including breast, colon, ovarian, prostate and NSCL carcinomas). Therefore, inhibitors of cdks and cell cycle progression have the potential to fill a large therapeutic need. This review will summarise recent advances in the development of small molecule inhibitors of the cdks and many of the challenges that face the clinical development of this class of therapeutic agents.