COMPOUNDS THAT INTERFERE WITH DNA REPLICATION IN RAPIDLY PROLIFERATING CELLS FOR USE IN CANCER THERAPY AND METHODS FOR SCREENING FOR SUCH COMPOUNDS

摘要

Compounds which interfere with the function of the cdc6 protein to form or maintain pre-replication complexes in an animal cell without impairing the cell's ability to activate cyclin dependent kinases that promote S phase and/or M phase for use in cancer therapy due to their ability to kill tumour cells by inhibiting DNA replication. Method for screening for such compounds. There is now considerable evidence that chromosome duplication is triggered by the activation in late G1 of particular cyclin dependent kinases, known as S phase promoting Cdks. It was an object of the present invention to further investigate the mechanisms involved in DNA replication and, utilizing the obtained results, as opposed to conventional chemotherapy, does not damage DNA per se but interferes with DNA replication.