Targeting the kinesin spindle protein: basic principles and clinical implications.
Kinesin spindle protein (KSP), a member of the kinesin superfamily of microtubule-based motors, plays a critical role in mitosis as it mediates centrosome separation and bipolar spindle assembly and maintenance. Inhibition of KSP function leads to cell cycle arrest at mitosis with the formation of monoastral microtubule arrays, and ultimately, to cell death. Several KSP inhibitors are currently being studied in clinical trials and provide new opportunities for the development of novel anticancer therapeutics alternative from the available microtubule targeting drugs.
Sarli
Vasiliki
V
Institute for Organic Chemistry, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. sarli@uni-leipzig.de
Giannis
Athanassios
A
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D016547:Kinesins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C470243:KIF11 protein, human; D016547:Kinesins