p27kip1: An all-round tumor suppressor

Our recent study has uncovered an additional mechanism by which the cell cycle inhibitor p27kip1 controls cell proliferation. Through its effect on the activity of the microtubule destabilizing protein Stathmin, p27kip1 modulates full H-Ras activation and, as a consequence, the MAPK signaling cascade. This regulatory mechanism influences the cell cycle in vitro and tissue and/or organ growth in mice, in vivo and, when unbalanced, may lead to uncontrolled proliferation and tumor onset.