CDC20

CDC20 Full Name

cell division cycle 20 homolog (S. cerevisiae)

CDC20 Introduction

CDC20 (Cell Division Cycle 20 Homolog) is a critical regulator of the cell cycle, widely recognized for its essential role in ensuring accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis. Acting primarily as a co-activator of the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), CDC20 facilitates the ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of key mitotic proteins, including securin and cyclin B1. This activity allows cells to transition from metaphase to anaphase and successfully complete mitosis. In many human cancers, CDC20 is overexpressed, contributing to uncontrolled cell proliferation and serving as a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target. Its central position in cell-cycle regulation makes it particularly relevant for researchers focused on tumor progression, drug resistance, and poor clinical outcomes.

Beyond its classical mitotic functions, CDC20 has been found to regulate a variety of cellular processes that extend beyond chromosome segregation. It plays roles in apoptosis, stem cell maintenance, DNA damage response, immune modulation, angiogenesis, and tissue differentiation. Dysregulation of CDC20 not only promotes tumor cell proliferation but also enhances tumor adaptability, metastatic potential, and resistance to therapy. Studies have also shown tissue-specific functions, such as its involvement in bone formation and osteogenic differentiation through the regulation of specific transcription factors. This multifaceted activity underscores CDC20's significance as a signaling hub connecting cell division with broader cellular homeostasis and disease progression.

Clinically, CDC20 overexpression is associated with poor prognosis in a wide range of cancers, including breast, lung, colorectal, liver, ovarian, and hematological malignancies. High CDC20 levels often correlate with advanced disease stage, increased recurrence risk, and reduced overall survival. Targeting CDC20 has therefore emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy, with small-molecule inhibitors demonstrating the ability to disrupt its function, induce mitotic arrest, and inhibit tumor growth in preclinical studies. Developing specific, safe, and effective CDC20 inhibitors holds potential for overcoming drug resistance and improving patient outcomes, positioning CDC20 as both a fundamental cell-cycle regulator and a valuable target for cancer therapy.

Alternate Names for CDC20

CDC20; cell division cycle 20 homolog (S. cerevisiae); CDC20 (cell division cycle 20, S. cerevisiae, homolog); CDC20 cell division cycle 20 homolog (S. cerevisiae); cell division cycle protein 20 homolog; CDC20A; p55CDC; CDC20 cell division cycle 20 homolog; bA276H19.3; MGC102824;

• 1.Chen Y, et al.; Current progress of CDC20 in cancer development and targeting CDC20 for cancer therapy. Carcinogenesis. 2026, 47(2):bgag021.
  2.Bruno S, et al.; CDC20 in and out of mitosis: a prognostic factor and therapeutic target in hematological malignancies. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2022, 41(1):159.