CDK4 [DCS-31]

Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) is a member of the Ser/Thr protein kinase family. It is a catalytic subunit of the protein kinase complex that is important for cell cycle G1 phase progression. The activity of this kinase is restricted to the G1-S phase, which is controlled by the regulatory subunits D-type cyclins and CDK inhibitor p16 (INK4a). Overexpression of CDK4 has been observed in many tumor types, including oral squamous cell carcinoma and cancers of the pancreatic (endocrine tumors), lung, breast and colon. The expression of CDK4 is associated with tumor progression. Binh et al. reported a high expression of CDK4 (92%) in atypical lipomatous tumor/well-differentiated liposarcomas (ALT-WDLPS) and dedifferentiated liposarcomas (DDLPS) by immunostaining. CDK4 is useful in differentiating ALT-WDLPS from benign adipose tumors and to separate DDLPS from poorly differentiated sarcomas.