The p27Kip1 tumor suppressor gene: Still a suspect or proven guilty?

Abstract

The p27Kip1 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor is considered to be a tumor suppressor even though somatic mutations in p27Kip1 are only rarely detected in human tumors. On the other hand, overwhelming evidence indicates that its hemizygous or posttranscriptional loss plays an important role in tumorigenesis. Based on these data, p27Kip1 was classified as a haploinsufficient tumor suppressor whose protein level has to be fine-tuned for optimal function. However, a recent study links germline mutations in p27Kip1 to multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome in rats and humans, thus establishing p27Kip1 as a bona fide tumor suppressor gene.