Growth Summary Many cell cycle regulatory molecules have been shown to be present in higher amounts in tumor cells. In contrast, researchers at National Jewish Medical and Research Center discovered that the important cell cycle kinase, cdk6, plays an important role in tumor cell growth and was absent or present in decreased amount in all breast tumor-derived cell lines examined . Therefore, cdk6 may be useful as a marker of tumor cell growth especially in patients with breast cancer. No cdk6 or considerably lower levels of cdk6 were detected in breast tumor-derived cell lines compare to healthy breast cells. 3T3 cells overexpressing cdk6 exhibited a much reduced growth rate compare to normal 3T3 cell lines.
Histologic studies using tissue from breast cancer patients are in progress.
Demonstrating reliability of cdk6 as a predictor of in vivo tumor cell growth. Additional manuscripts in press and submitted.