Current progress of CDC20 in cancer development and targeting CDC20 for cancer therapy.

Cell division cycle 20 homolog (CDC20), a critical substrate-recruiting subunit of the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), binds to APC/C to form the active APC/C-CDC20 complex, which regulates the degradation of key cell cycle substrates to ensure accurate and timely mitotic progression. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that CDC20 functions as an oncogenic factor, with its overexpression observed in various malignancies. Its dysregulation is closely associated with tumor initiation, progression, drug resistance, and poor clinical outcomes, underscoring its potential as a therapeutic target in anti-cancer strategies. In this review, we describe the biological functions of CDC20 in cancers, discuss its role and underlying mechanisms in solid tumors and hematological malignancies, and elucidate currently reported CDC20-targeted inhibitors along with their clinical benefits and challenges. By emphasizing the oncogenic significance of CDC20, we propose that the development of specific, safe, and potent CDC20 inhibitors could provide a promising therapeutic approach for cancer patients exhibiting CDC20 overexpression.