Cell-cycle molecules in mesothelioma

The cell cycle is the cascade of events that allows a growing cell to duplicate all its component and split into two daughter cells. Several studies report the importance of cell cycle proteins in the pathogenesis and the prognosis of mesothelioma. Cell cycle progression is mediated by the activation of a highly conserved family of protein kinases, the cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). CDKs are also regulated by related proteins called cdk inhibitors grouped into two families: the INK4 inhibitors (p16, p15, p19 and p18) and the Cip/Kip inhibitors (p21, p27 and p53). This article will review the most recent data from the literature about the expression and the diagnostic and prognostic significance of cell cycle molecules in mesothelioma.