title: Aurora-A kinase: a novel target both for cellular immunotherapy and molecular target therapy against human leukemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although cellular immunotherapy still remains in its infancy, it is one of the important treatment options against cancer. The marked improvement of its clinical efficacy requires a 'better' target antigen, which is well recognized by cancer-cell-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. We have recently demonstrated the potential of Aurora-A kinase (Aurora-A) as such a 'better' target for cellular immunotherapy against human leukemia. Aurora-A is a member of the serine/threonine kinase family that properly regulates the cell division process, and has recently been implicated in tumorigenesis. On the other hand, small-molecule inhibitors targeting Aurora-A have recently been developed and preliminary but promising observations from Phase I clinical trials have been reported. These facts highlight the attractiveness of Aurora-A as an important target of comprehensive cancer therapies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this review, we cover Aurora-A in the areas of immunotherapy and small-molecule inhibitor therapy against cancers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aurora-A kinase is an attractive molecule not only as a target for small-molecule inhibitors, but also as a potential target for immunotherapy against cancer.
authors.affiliation: Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Bioregulatory Medicine, Shitsukawa, Toon, Ehime 791-0295, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ochi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yasukawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007938:Leukemia / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*; D014611:Vaccination; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases