Targeting Aurora Kinases in Cancer Treatment

Title: Targeting Aurora Kinases in Cancer Treatment

Volume: 12 Issue: 14

Author(s): Kevin R. Kelly, Jeffrey Ecsedy, Devalingam Mahalingam, Steffan T. Nawrocki, Swaminathan Padmanabhan, Francis J. Giles and Jennifer S. Carew

Affiliation:

Keywords: Aurora kinase inhibitors, cancer, tageted therapy, mitosis, clinical studies, cell cycle regulation, malignancy, Hesperadin, ZM447439, AT9283

Abstract: The Aurora family of serine/threonine kinases is essential for chromosome alignment, segregation, centrosomal maturation, mitotic spindle formation, and cytokinesis during mitosis. Their fundamental role in cell cycle regulation and aberrant expression in a broad range of malignancies prompted the development of small molecules that selectively inhibit their activity. Recent studies have revealed new insights into the cellular effects of Aurora kinase inhibition. Moreover, early phase clinical studies have shown that these agents have therapeutic efficacy. In this review, we will outline the functions of Aurora kinases in normal cell division and in malignancy. We will focus on recent preclinical and clinical studies that have explored the mechanism of action and clinical effect of Aurora inhibitors in cancer treatment.

Cite this article as:

R. Kelly Kevin, Ecsedy Jeffrey, Mahalingam Devalingam, T. Nawrocki Steffan, Padmanabhan Swaminathan, J. Giles Francis and S. Carew Jennifer, Targeting Aurora Kinases in Cancer Treatment, Current Drug Targets 2011; 12 (14) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138945011798829410