Cancer is a dreaded disease that has become the focus of numerous researches worldwide. It occurs due to uncontrolled cell growth, which leads to the formation of tumors that can spread to other parts of the body.

The discovery of various proteins and enzymes that support tumorigenesis has led to the development of various drugs to treat cancer. However, the study of these molecular pathways is ongoing, and researchers continue to identify new targetable pathways to treat cancer.

The Role of Cdc20 in Cancer Progression

Cell division cycle protein 20 (Cdc20) is a protein that is involved in the regulation of the cell cycle.

It is required for the initiation of anaphase, the stage of mitosis in which the chromosomes are separated and pulled to different sides of the cell. Cdc20 is highly expressed in various types of cancers, and its overexpression is associated with poor patient prognosis.

Research has shown that Cdc20 overexpression promotes the progression of cancer by degrading tumor suppressor proteins and allowing the uncontrolled proliferation of cancer cells.

Cdc20 and the Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is responsible for the degradation of proteins in the cell. It involves the attachment of a small protein called ubiquitin to a target protein, which then marks it for degradation by the proteasome.

Cdc20 plays a crucial role in this pathway by recognizing the proteins that need to be degraded and enabling their degradation by the proteasome.

In cancer cells, the overexpression of Cdc20 leads to the degradation of several tumor suppressor proteins, including p53, p21, and APC.

p53 is a well-known tumor suppressor protein that plays a critical role in controlling the cell cycle and preventing the formation of tumors. The degradation of p53 by Cdc20 allows the uncontrolled proliferation of cancer cells, leading to the formation of tumors. Similarly, the degradation of p21 by Cdc20 leads to the unchecked cell division that characterizes cancer.

APC is a tumor suppressor protein that regulates the Wnt signaling pathway, which is critical for the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. The degradation of APC by Cdc20 leads to the activation of the Wnt pathway and the uncontrolled proliferation of cancer cells.

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Cdc20 as a Therapeutic Target

The overexpression of Cdc20 in cancer cells presents an opportunity for the development of targeted therapies. Several studies have shown that the inhibition of Cdc20 can decrease the proliferation of cancer cells and induce cell death.

Small molecule inhibitors of Cdc20 have been developed, and preclinical studies have shown promising results. One such inhibitor is apcin, which has been found to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells and induce apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Another inhibitor of Cdc20, TTK21, has shown efficacy in both in vitro and in vivo models of breast cancer.

Cdc20 and Chemotherapy

The overexpression of Cdc20 in cancer cells has been associated with resistance to chemotherapy drugs. Chemotherapy drugs work by inducing apoptosis in cancer cells, and the degradation of Cdc20 prevents this apoptosis from occurring.

Several studies have shown that the inhibition of Cdc20 can sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy drugs. In a study on breast cancer, the combination of TTK21 and doxorubicin, a chemotherapy drug, led to a greater reduction in tumor growth than either agent alone.

Cdc20 and Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is another common treatment for cancer that works by damaging the DNA of cancer cells. However, the overexpression of Cdc20 in cancer cells has been associated with resistance to radiotherapy.

Several studies have shown that the inhibition of Cdc20 can sensitize cancer cells to radiotherapy. In a study on lung cancer, the inhibition of Cdc20 increased the sensitivity of cancer cells to radiation.

Conclusion

The discovery of the role of Cdc20 in cancer progression has opened up new avenues for the development of targeted therapies.

The overexpression of Cdc20 in cancer cells leads to the degradation of several tumor suppressor proteins, allowing the uncontrolled proliferation of cancer cells. The inhibition of Cdc20 has been found to decrease the proliferation of cancer cells and induce cell death.

The use of Cdc20 inhibitors in combination with chemotherapy drugs or radiotherapy can sensitize cancer cells to these treatments and enhance their efficacy. Targeting Cdc20 presents a promising strategy for the treatment of cancer.