# CDK2

Source: https://onco.cc/targets/cdk2/  
OnCo record `cdk2` (Target). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

CDK2 (Cyclin-dependent kinase 2) is a protein kinase, an enzyme that switches other proteins on by adding phosphate groups. The public catalogues list it as a drug target, a biomarker and a DNA repair gene, and clinical evidence ties its variants to diagnosis, prognosis or drug response. Tied to Triple-negative breast cancer.

## Summary

Serine/threonine-protein kinase involved in the control of the cell cycle; essential for meiosis, but dispensable for mitosis. Phosphorylates CABLES1, CTNNB1, CDK2AP2, ERCC6, NBN, USP37, p53/TP53, NPM1, CDK7, RB1, BRCA2, MYC, NPAT, SUV39H1, EZH2. Triggers duplication of centrosomes and DNA.

CIViC holds 1 clinical evidence item and 0 assertions across 1 variant, naming Carboplatin and Eribulin. In OnCo, 1 product record names it (AVZO-021).

## Fields

- Kind: Target
- Last checked: 2026-09-23
- Also known as: cyclin dependent kinase 2; Cyclin-dependent kinase 2
- Tags: cancer-genes-wave
- Symbol: CDK2
- Class: kinase
- Biology: Serine/threonine-protein kinase involved in the control of the cell cycle; essential for meiosis, but dispensable for mitosis. Phosphorylates CABLES1, CTNNB1, CDK2AP2, ERCC6, NBN, USP37, p53/TP53, NPM1, CDK7, RB1, BRCA2, MYC, NPAT, SUV39H1, EZH2. Triggers duplication of centrosomes and DNA. Acts at the G1-S transition to promote the E2F transcriptional program and the initiation of DNA synthesis, and modulates G2 progression; controls the timing of entry into mitosis/meiosis by controlling the subsequent activation of cyclin B/CDK1 by phosphorylation, and coordinates the activation of cyclin B/CDK1 at the centrosome and in the nucleus. Crucial role in orchestrating a fine balance between cellular proliferation, cell death, and DNA repair in embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Activated by the CDK-activating kinase (CAK) complex consisting of CDK7, cyclin-H/CCNH and MAT1, which is a master regulator of CDK activity. Location: Cytoplasm, cytoskeleton, microtubule organizing center, centrosome; Nucleus, Cajal body; Cytoplasm; Endosome (UniProt). Locus 12q13.2 (HGNC).
- Where found: Triple-negative breast cancer: CIViC evidence names this disease

## Notes

- Written by scripts/fetch-cancer-genes.ts from CIViC, Open Targets, IntOGen, HGNC and UniProt; the function text is UniProt's, condensed and in UK spelling. Roles: CIViC lists 2 therapies; CIViC holds 1 clinical evidence items on its variants; UniProt keyword "DNA repair". Evidence tier "clinical-evidence" is the strongest of those signals.
- Prevalence not recorded: none of the sources gives a positivity rate.

## Sources

- HGNC HGNC:1771: https://www.genenames.org/data/gene-symbol-report/#!/hgnc_id/HGNC:1771
- UniProt P24941: https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/P24941/entry
- NCBI Gene 1017: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/1017
- Ensembl ENSG00000123374: https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000123374

## Connected records

- collections: [CIViC](https://onco.cc/collections/civic/)
- cancers: [Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)](https://onco.cc/cancers/tnbc/)
- drugs: [AVZO-021](https://onco.cc/drugs/avzo-021/)
- pathways: [DNA replication & origin licensing](https://onco.cc/pathways/dna-replication-licensing/), [Small cell lung cancer (KEGG map)](https://onco.cc/pathways/sclc-signalling/)

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JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/cdk2.json