Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 7 is best characterized for the ability to regulate biological processes, including the cell cycle and gene transcription. Abnormal CDK7 activity is observed in various tumours and represents a driving force for tumourigenesis. Therefore, CDK7 may be an appealing target for cancer treatment. Whereas, the enthusiasm for CDK7-targeted therapeutic strategy is mitigated due to the widely possessed belief that this protein is essential for normal cells. Indeed, the fact confronts the consensus. This is the first review to introduce the role of CDK7 in pan-cancers via a combined analysis of comprehensive gene information and (pre)clinical research results. We also discuss the recent advances in protein structure and summarize the understanding of mechanisms underlying CDK7 function. These endeavours highlight the pivotal roles of CDK7 in tumours and may contribute to the development of effective CDK7 inhibitors within the strategy of structure-based drug discovery for cancer therapy.

细胞周期蛋白依赖性激酶 (CDK) 7 的最大特点是能够调节生物过程，包括细胞周期和基因转录。在各种肿瘤中观察到异常的 CDK7 活性，代表了肿瘤发生的驱动力。因此，CDK7 可能是一个有吸引力的癌症治疗靶点。然而，由于人们普遍认为这种蛋白质对正常细胞必不可少，因此人们对 CDK7 靶向治疗策略的热情有所降低。事实上，事实与共识背道而驰。这是第一篇综合分析综合基因信息和（前）临床研究结果，介绍CDK7在泛癌中作用的综述。我们还讨论了蛋白质结构的最新进展，并总结了对 CDK7 功能潜在机制的理解。