Clinical usefulness of cyclin D1 investigation in neoplastic tumors : review of the literature

Cyclin-dependent serine-threonine kinases, among them D1 cyclin, are responsible for cell cycle regulation in the G1 phase. Cyclins, as well as proteins cooperating with them, are broadly investigated, because their dysfunction may lead to neoplastic transformation. In this article we present an overview of the literature concerning cyclin D1 expression in: gastric cancer, breast cancer, prostate adenocarcinoma, colon and rectum cancer, lung adenocarcinoma, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. The authors have underlined the articles were cyclin D1 expression is studied in: skin cancers (squamous cell carcinomas and basal cell carcinomas), dysplastic nevi and malignant melanoma

The genetics of melanoma

Melanoma is an important public health issue and research strategies are trying to elucidate the relative contribution of genes and environmental factors in its causation. In terms of genetic factors the discovery of cell cycle genes -CDKN2a, CDK4 - has been a great advance. Current studies aim to identify other susceptibility genes and to determine the interactions of the various genetic and environmental factors. Among them, MC1R (Melanocortin-1 receptor gene), PTEN, BRAF, NRAS are being analysed more closely. Epistatic (gene-gene) and gene environmental interactions studies aim to recognize individuals at high risk