What happens to cancer cells if actin polymerization is disrupted?

Disruption of actin polymerization significantly impacts the process of cell division, particularly cytokinesis, which is the final stage of mitosis where the cytoplasm is divided, leading to the formation of two distinct daughter cells. Actin filaments are crucial for the contractile ring that forms during cytokinesis, facilitating the physical separation of the two cells.

When actin polymerization is disrupted, the assembly of this contractile ring can be impaired, resulting in incomplete division. This incomplete division means that the cancer cells may not successfully undergo cytokinesis, leading to the formation of binucleated cells or even multinucleated cells, which can subsequently halt their proliferation. This is why the correct answer highlights that these cells may experience halted proliferation due to incomplete division. The inability to properly complete cell division can cause various downstream effects, ultimately affecting the viability and growth of cancer cells.

The other outcomes, such as normal division, enhanced growth, or immediate apoptosis, do not accurately reflect the cellular response to the disruption of actin polymerization. Rather, the primary consequence is the inability to divide effectively, leading to halted proliferation.