About Phenoxodiol
Frequently asked questions
Molecular targets of Phenoxodiol
Cancer development
Pro-survival mechanisms
Cell proliferation
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Cell Proliferation
Normal cells
Cells divide (or proliferate) in response to the growth signals. Cell division is regulated by a series of enzymes known as cyclin-dependant kinases (abbreviated as CDKs or cyclins). The cyclins start the process of cell division and co-ordinate the passage of the cell through the different stages of division (G0 - G1, - S - G2 - M).
The cyclins normally are suppressed by another group of enzymes known as cyclin-dependant kinase inhibitors (CDKIs) (eg. p21, p27, wee1, 14-3-3).
Growth requires activation of the cyclins (Ç) and inactivation of the CDKIs (È).
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Cancer cells
In cancer cells, cyclin activity is increased and CDKI activity decreased.
This high growth rate of cancer cells is a combination of
- over-reaction to normal growth signals (because of increased S-1P activity), and
- over-expression of cyclins, and
- under-expression of CDKIs.
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Phenoxodiol
Phenoxodiol blocks cell division in cancer cells by
- blocking cyclins, and
- up-regulating CDKI.
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