Targeting Aurora kinase A suppresses the growth of human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo

Summary Objectives Oncogene addiction has provided therapeutic opportunities in many human malignancies, but molecular targeted therapy for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is not yet available. In this study, we attempted to identify an appropriate target molecule for treatment of patients with OSCC. Materials and methods Microarray analysis was performed to determine the gene expression profiles in nine human OSCC cell lines and a non-neoplastic keratinocyte cell line. The expression levels of Aurora kinase A (AURKA) mRNA and protein in human OSCC cells and tissues were examined. We investigated the effect of small interfering RNAs specific for AURKA (siAURKAs) and MLN8237, an AURKA selective inhibitor on the growth of OSCC cells in vitro and in vivo. We also analyzed clinical significance in AURKA mRNA expression levels in OSCC. Results AURKA was overexpressed in human OSCC cell lines and tissues. All siAURKAs almost completely suppressed the expression of AURKA protein, and significantly inhibited the growth of OSCC cells by 31–89%. MLN8237 also reduced the cellular growth rate by 38–74%. Both siAURKA and MLN8237 significantly reduced the size of subcutaneously xenografted OSCC tumors by 66% and 40%. Knockdown of AURKA expression and MLN8237 induced the growth inhibition of primary cultured cells established from patients’ OSCC tumors. Furthermore, we found a significant association between AURKA mRNA expression levels and histological differentiation and lymph node metastasis. Conclusions AURKA plays a critical role in the growth of human OSCC cells and targeting AURKA may be a useful therapeutic strategy for OSCC.