NCIt definition : The mesylate salt of abemaciclib, an orally available cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)
inhibitor that targets the cyclin D1-CDK4 and cyclin D3-CDK6 cell cycle pathway, with
potential antineoplastic activity. Abemaciclib specifically inhibits CDK4 and 6, thereby
inhibiting retinoblastoma (Rb) protein phosphorylation in early G1. Inhibition of
Rb phosphorylation prevents CDK-mediated G1-S phase transition, thereby arresting
the cell cycle in the G1 phase, suppressing DNA synthesis and inhibiting cancer cell
growth. Overexpression of the serine/threonine kinases CDK4/6, as seen in certain
types of cancer, causes cell cycle deregulation.;