Abstract

Cyclin-Dependent kinases (CDKs) function in mitosis by allowing the cycle to progress from one stage to another due to their properties as a family of protein kinases. Because of this function, abnormalities with CDKs can lead to uncontrolled cell division, leading to diseases such as cancer. Breast cancer is one form of cancer in which CDKs are a prevalent area of study. The role CDKs play in controlling and coordinating cell division makes it an important process to understand in breast cancer and, specifically, the metastasis of breast cancer. Lack of controlled CDK function could allow the cancer to spread to other parts of the body, leading to metastasis. Inhibiting CDK activity is an area of interest in searching for ways to treat breast cancer, especially once it has spread to the point where tumors cannot be surgically removed. Investigating these pathways and the effects of CDK inhibition on breast cancer cells has revealed much on the reestablishment of cell cycle control, which consequently leads to control of the cancer. This could be an effective form of non-localized treatment against metastatic cancer that is able to target specific cells throughout the body.