The Cell Cycle, Cellular Death, and Metabolism

Cancers are universally characterized by dysregulation of the cell cycle, allowing for uninhibited and inappropriate cell growth. Thus, cell cycle analysis tools are commonly used by cancer researchers to ask specifi c questions about the underlying cancer biology. For example, in elucidating signaling pathways, one may want to determine how overexpression or knockdown of a particular gene infl uences cell growth. Alternatively, in the identifi cation of novel drug targets, one may need to characterize the mechanism by which cancer cells escape cell cycle checkpoints. A number of antineoplastic agents infl uence the cell cycle. Thus, cell cycle analysis provides critical tools for drug development. Cell cycle analysis is also used by clinicians; for instance, mitotic dye staining of pathologic specimens can help determine the grade and prognosis of patients’ tumors. The optimal choice and implementation of a cell cycle assay will depend on the question being asked and the system under study.