The cell cycle and its regulation
Phases of the cell cycle, the cyclin-CDK engine, the Rb-E2F restriction point and the p53 checkpoint, how cancers break them, CDK4/6 inhibitor pharmacology, phase-specific chemotherapy and the tumour growth arithmetic behind adjuvant therapy.
Tier 2Medical sciences concept
Written with AI assistance and fact-checked against the sources below. For exam study, not clinical decisions. How notes are made
At a glance
- Phases: G1 (variable length, decides whether to divide), S (DNA synthesis, about 8 hours), G2 (checks the copy), M (about 1 hour). Non-dividing cells sit in G0.
- The engine is cyclins (made and destroyed each cycle) bound to cyclin-dependent kinases (present throughout).
- The restriction point in late G1 is set by Rb. Phosphorylated Rb releases E2F, and the cell commits to S phase.
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Sources
- Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th editionElsevier (Kumar V, Abbas AK, Aster JC), 2021
- Hanahan D, Weinberg RA. Hallmarks of cancer: the next generation. Cell 2011;144:646-74Cell, 2011
- Hanahan D. Hallmarks of cancer: new dimensions. Cancer Discov 2022;12:31-46Cancer Discovery, 2022
- Finn RS, Martin M, Rugo HS et al. Palbociclib and letrozole in advanced breast cancer (PALOMA-2). N Engl J Med 2016;375:1925-36New England Journal of Medicine, 2016
- Last updated
- 14 November 2026
What changed
- 14 November 2026 Personal emails, About story and Australian-style copy