151. The role and targeting of Aurora kinases in head and neck cancer
- Author
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Mehra, Ranee, Serebriiskii, Ilya G., Burtness, Barbara, Astsaturov, Igor, and Golemis, Erica A.
- Subjects
Clinical Trials as Topic ,Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck ,macromolecular substances ,Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases ,Article ,stomatognathic diseases ,enzymes and coenzymes (carbohydrates) ,Aurora Kinases ,Head and Neck Neoplasms ,embryonic structures ,Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ,Aurora Kinase B ,Humans ,biological phenomena, cell phenomena, and immunity ,Transcriptome ,Protein Kinase Inhibitors ,Aurora Kinase A - Abstract
In healthy cells, controlled activation of aurora kinases regulates mitosis. Overexpression and hyperactivation of aurora kinases A and B have major roles in tumorigenesis, and can induce aneuploidy and genomic instability. In squamous-cell carcinomas of the head and neck, overexpression of aurora kinase A is associated with decreased survival, and a reduction in aurora kinase A and aurora kinase B expression inhibits cell growth and increases apoptosis. In this Review, we provide an overview of the biological functions of aurora kinases in healthy cells and in cancer cells, and we review small studies and high-throughput datasets that particularly implicate aurora kinase A in the pathogenesis of squamous-cell carcinomas of the head and neck. Early phase trials are beginning to assess the activity of small-molecule inhibitors of aurora kinases. We summarise trials of aurora kinase inhibitors in squamous-cell carcinomas of the head and neck, and discuss directions for future drug combination trials and biomarkers to use with drugs that inhibit aurora kinases.
- Published
- 2013