Aurora-kinase inhibitors as anticancer agents.
Errors in mitosis can provide a source of the genomic instability that is typically associated with tumorigenesis. Many mitotic regulators are aberrantly expressed in tumour cells. These proteins could therefore make useful therapeutic targets. The kinases Aurora-A, -B and -C represent a family of such targets and several small-molecule inhibitors have been shown to block their function. Not only have these inhibitors advanced our understanding of mitosis, but, importantly, their in vivo antitumour activity has recently been reported. What have these studies taught us about the therapeutic potential of inhibiting this family of kinases?
Keen
Nicholas
N
Cancer and Infection Research Area, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Mereside, Alderley Park, Cheshire, SK10 4TG, UK. Nick.Keen@astrazeneca.com
Taylor
Stephen
S
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008938:Mitosis / Q000235:genetics; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases