title: Targeting aurora kinases in cancer treatment.
abstract: The Aurora family of serine/threonine kinases is essential for chromosome alignment, segregation, centrosomal maturation, mitotic spindle formation, and cytokinesis during mitosis. Their fundamental role in cell cycle regulation and aberrant expression in a broad range of malignancies prompted the development of small molecules that selectively inhibit their activity. Recent studies have revealed new insights into the cellular effects of Aurora kinase inhibition. Moreover, early phase clinical studies have shown that these agents have therapeutic efficacy. In this review, we will outline the functions of Aurora kinases in normal cell division and in malignancy. We will focus on recent preclinical and clinical studies that have explored the mechanism of action and clinical effect of Aurora inhibitors in cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Drug Development, CTRC at University of Texas Health Science Center, 14960 Omicron Drive, San Antonio, TX 78245, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ecsedy
authors.forename: Devalingam
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mahalingam
authors.forename: Steffan T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Nawrocki
authors.forename: Swaminathan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Padmanabhan
authors.forename: Francis J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Giles
authors.forename: Jennifer S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Carew
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D002453:Cell Cycle; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases