The Mechanism of Action of Palbociclib

Gunter von Minckwitz, MD, PhD, Chairman, German Breast Group, Professor of Gynecology, University of Frankfurt, Germany, explains the mechanism of palbociclib, a novel oral selective inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4 and 6.

Clinical Pearls:

• By inhibiting CDK 4 and 6, the agent prevents DNA synthesis by prohibiting progression from G1 to S phase of the cell cycle
• The agent also inhibits phosphorylation of the RB protein
• Palbociclib prohibits cell proliferation