Mitotic checkpoint defects: en route to cancer and drug resistance

Loss of mitosis regulation is a common feature of malignant cells that leads to aberrant cell division with inaccurate chromosome segregation. The mitotic checkpoint is responsible for faithful transmission of genetic material to the progeny. Defects in this checkpoint, such as mutations and changes in gene expression, lead to abnormal chromosome content or aneuploidy that may facilitate cancer development. Furthermore, a defective checkpoint response is indicated in the development of drug resistance to microtubule poisons that are used in treatment of various blood and solid cancers for several decades. Mitotic slippage and senescence are important cell fates that occur even with an active mitotic checkpoint and are held responsible for the resistance. However, contradictory findings in both the scenarios of carcinogenesis and drug resistance have aroused questions on whether mitotic checkpoint defects are truly responsible for these dismal outcomes. Here, we discuss the possible contribution of the faulty checkpoint signaling in cancer development and drug resistance, followed by the latest research on this pathway for better outcomes in cancer treatment.