title: Therapeutic melting pot of never in mitosis gene a related kinase 2 (Nek2): a perspective on Nek2 as an oncology target and recent advancements in Nek2 small molecule inhibition.
abstract: The global incidence of cancer is on the rise, and within the next decade, the disease is expected to become the leading cause of death worldwide. Forthcoming strategies used to treat cancers focus on the design and implementation of multidrug therapies to target complementary cancer specific pathways. A more direct means by which this multitargeted approach can be achieved is by identifying and targeting interpathway regulatory factors. Recent advances in understanding Nek2 (NIMA related kinase 2) biology suggest that the kinase potentially represents a multifaceted therapeutic target. In this regard, pharmacologic modulation of Nek2 with a single agent may effect several mechanisms important for tumor growth, survival, progression, and metastasis. We herein review the development of Nek2 as an oncology target and provide a succinct chronology of drug discovery campaigns focused on targeting Nek2.
authors: Department of Pharmacoloy and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona , Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States.
authors: Brendan
authors: B
authors: Frett
authors: Robert V
authors: RV
authors: Brown
authors: Mingliang
authors: M
authors: Ma
authors: Wenhao
authors: W
authors: Hu
authors: Haiyong
authors: H
authors: Han
authors: Hong-yu
authors: HY
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D055808:Drug Discovery; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D000072379:NIMA-Related Kinases; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries; C089441:NEK2 protein, human; D000072379:NIMA-Related Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases