Aurora A and B kinases--targets of novel anticancer drugs.
The Aurora Kinases are highly related serine-threonine kinases, essential for accurate and equal segregation of genomic material during mitosis. A large number of studies have linked the aberrant expression of Aurora kinases to cancer, leading to the development of specific Aurora kinases inhibitors. Several small molecules inhibit with a similar efficacy both Aurora A and Aurora B, however, in most cases the effects resemble Aurora B disruption by genetic methods, indicating that Aurora B represents an effective therapeutic target. These drugs are currently under preclinical or clinical evaluation and are reviewed in this article. The relevant patents are discussed.
Dipartiment of Biology and Cellular and Molecular Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, via s. Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
Silvana
S
Libertini
Antonella
A
Abagnale
Carmela
C
Passaro
Ginevra
G
Botta
Giuseppe
G
Portella
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D064107:Aurora Kinase B; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; C576921:AURKB protein, human; D064107:Aurora Kinase B; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases