Regulation of the cdk inhibitor p27 and its deregulation in cancer

p27 is a cell cycle inhibitor whose cellular abundance increases in respons e to many antimitogenic stimuli. In this review, we summarize the current k nowledge on p27 function and its regulation by synthesis and by ubiquitin-m ediated degradation. Importantly, p27 degradation is enhanced in many aggre ssive human tumors. The frequency with which this is observed suggests that loss of p27 may confer a growth advantage to these cancers. From a practic al point of view, immunodetection of p27 in tumors may prove to be useful i n the assessment of prognosis and may ultimately influence the therapy of t his disease. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.