Aurora kinase A inhibition and paclitaxel as targeted combination therapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Aurora kinase A (AURKA) is amplified with varying incidence in multiple human cancers including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We investigated whether AURKA is a potential therapeutic target in HNSCC.


METHODS
We conducted an immunohistochemical analysis of AURKA expression in paired normal and tumor samples (n = 63). HNSCC cells treated with siRNA specific for AURKA were assessed for AURKA mRNA and protein expression levels by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. Tumor cells treated with siRNA and paclitaxel were assessed for cell proliferation by MTT assay and for cell cycle distribution by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
AURKA expression was higher in tumor than in adjacent normal in most (85%) of the samples analyzed. HNSCC cells and primary tumors revealed high expression levels of AURKA. Most primary tumors also showed high kinase activity of the enzyme. Targeted AURKA inhibition increased the sub-G1 cell fraction, with a concomitant reduction in the G1 cell population, indicating induction of apoptosis and thus markedly suppressed proliferation of HNSCC cells. Combining siRNA-induced AURKA inhibition with 5 to 10 nM paclitaxel synergistically enhanced apoptosis induction.


CONCLUSIONS
AURKA is a potential therapeutic target for HNSCC. Further investigation of small-molecule AURKA inhibitors as therapeutic agents is warranted.
Mazumdar
Abhijit
A
Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Henderson
Ying C
YC
El-Naggar
Adel K
AK
Sen
Subrata
S
Clayman
Gary L
GL
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D064096:Aurora Kinase A; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016193:G1 Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C576917:AURKA protein, human; D064096:Aurora Kinase A; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D017239:Paclitaxel