Aurora Kinase A Expression Research Articles

Synthetic Lethality Interaction Between Aurora Kinases and CHEK1 Inhibitors in Ovarian Cancer.

Ovarian cancer is characterized by frequent mutations at TP53. These tumors also harbor germline mutations at homologous recombination repair genes, so they rely on DNA-damage checkpoint proteins, like the checkpoint kinase 1 (CHEK1) to induce G2 arrest. In our study, by using an in silico approach, we identified a synthetic lethality interaction between CHEK1 and mitotic aurora kinase A (AURKA) inhibitors. Gene expression analyses were used for the identification of relevant biological functions. OVCAR3, OVCAR8, IGROV1, and SKOV3 were used for proliferation studies. Alisertib was tested as AURKA inhibitor and LY2603618 as CHEK1 inhibitor. Analyses of cell cycle and intracellular mediators were performed by flow cytometry and Western blot analysis. Impact on stem cell properties was evaluated by flow cytometry analysis of surface markers and sphere formation assays. Gene expression analyses followed by functional annotation identified a series of deregulated genes that belonged to cell cycle, including AURKA/B, TTK kinase, and CHEK1. AURKA and CHEK1 were amplified in 8.7% and 3.9% of ovarian cancers, respectively. AURKA and CHEK1 inhibitors showed a synergistic interaction in different cellular models. Combination of alisertib and LY2603618 triggered apoptosis, reduced the stem cell population, and increased the effect of taxanes and platinum compounds. Finally, expression of AURKA and CHEK1 was linked with detrimental outcome in patients. Our data describe a synthetic lethality interaction between CHEK1 and AURKA inhibitors with potential translation to the clinical setting. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(11); 2552-62. ©2017 AACR.

Inhibition of Aurora Kinase A Induces Necroptosis in Pancreatic Carcinoma

Induction of nonapoptotic cell death could be an approach to eliminate apoptosis-resistant tumors. We investigated necroptosis-based therapies in mouse models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cancer (PDAC). We screened 273 commercially available kinase inhibitors for cytotoxicity against a human PDAC cell line (PANC1). We evaluated the ability of the aurora kinase inhibitor CCT137690 to stimulate necroptosis in PDAC cell lines (PANC1, PANC2.03, CFPAC1, MiaPaCa2, BxPc3, and PANC02) and the HEK293 cell line, measuring loss of plasma membrane integrity, gain in cell volume, swollen organelles, and cytoplasmic vacuoles. We tested the effects of CCT137690 in colon formation assays, and the effects of the necroptosis (necrostatin-1 and necrosulfonamide), apoptosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis inhibitors. We derived cells from tumors that developed in Pdx1-Cre;K-RasG12D/+;p53R172H/+ (KPC) mice. Genes encoding proteins in cell death pathways were knocked out, knocked down, or expressed from transgenes in PDAC cell lines. Athymic nude or B6 mice were given subcutaneous injections of PDAC cells or tail-vein injections of KPC tumor cells. Mice were given CCT137690 (80 mg/kg) or vehicle and tumor growth was monitored; tumor tissues were collected and analyzed by immunohistochemistry. We compared gene expression levels between human pancreatic cancer tissues (n= 130) with patient survival times using the online R2 genomics analysis and visualization platform. CCT137690 induced necrosis-like death in PDAC cell lines and reduced colony formation; these effects required RIPK1, RIPK3, and MLKL, as well as inhibition of aurora kinase A (AURKA). AURKA interacted directly with RIPK1 and RIPK3 to reduce necrosome activation. AURKA-mediated phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) at serine 9 inhibited activation of the RIPK3 and MLKL necrosome. Mutations in AURKA (D274A) or GSK3β (S9A), or pharmacologic inhibitors of RIPK1 signaling via RIPK3 and MLKL, reduced the cytotoxic activity of CCT137690 in PDAC cells. Oral administration of CCT137690 induced necroptosis and immunogenic cell death in subcutaneous and orthotopic tumors in mice, and reduced tumor growth and tumor cell phosphorylation of AURKA and GSK3β. CCT137690 increased survival times of mice with orthotopic KPC PDACs and reduced tumor growth, stroma, and metastasis. Increased expression of AURKA and GSK3β mRNAs associated with shorter survival times of patients with pancreatic cancer. We identified the aurora kinase inhibitor CCT137690 as an agent that induces necrosis-like death in PDAC cells, via RIPK1, RIPK3, and MLKL. CCT137690 slowed growth of orthotopic tumors from PDAC cells in mice, and expression of AURKA and GSK3β associate with patient survival times. AURKA might be targeted for treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Abstract 5818: Disrupting the Aurora kinase A interactome in pediatric cancer

Abstract Neuroblastoma is the most common extra-cranial solid tumor of childhood. Amplification of the MYCN proto-oncogene occurs in 50% of the high-risk neuroblastoma and indicates an aggressive and lethal form of the disease. As a transcription factor with no apparent small-molecule surfaces, direct inhibition of MYCN has proven challenging. Proteolytic cleavage of MYCN is regulated in part by an activity-independent scaffold function of Aurora Kinase A (AURKA). The dynamic expression and activation of AURKA allows for precise cell cycle regulation of several substrates identified by protein-protein interaction studies that are also viable anti-cancer targets, such as the aforementioned MYCN oncoprotein. Utilizing co-immunopreciptation, flow cytometry, and other pertinent cell biology techniques, we aim to delineate a novel mechanism of targeting the AURKA interactome by conformation disruption of AURKA. We have recently described a neoteric class of confirmation disrupting “amphosteric” inhibitors of AURKA (CD-AURKAi) that orthosterically inhibit the ATP-binding pocket to dramatically disrupt the active conformation of AURKA to dissociate and degrade MYCN, a critical oncogenic driver of the pediatric cancer neuroblastoma. In addition to MYCN, our preliminary results show CD532 will also dissociate other oncogenic proteins that interact with AURKA. We hypothesize that conformation disruption of AURKA and subsequent blockade of an array of protein-protein interactions will delineate the roles of AURKA, MYC, and MYCN in the cell cycle and expand the clinical applications for CD-AURKAi in cancer to include non-MYCN driven diseases. Citation Format: Sucheta Mukherjee, Carolyn Tu, Clay Gustafson. Disrupting the Aurora kinase A interactome in pediatric cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5818. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-5818

SIX3, a tumor suppressor, inhibits astrocytoma tumorigenesis by transcriptional repression of AURKA/B

BackgroundSIX homeobox 3 (SIX3) is a member of the sine oculis homeobox transcription factor family. It plays a vital role in the nervous system development. Our previous study showed that the SIX3 gene is hypermethylated, and its expression is decreased in astrocytoma, but the role of SIX3 remains unknown.MethodsChromatin-immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and luciferase reporter assay were used to confirm the binding of SIX3 to the promoter regions of aurora kinase A (AURKA) and aurora kinase B (AURKB). Confocal imaging and co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) were used to detect the interaction between AURKA and AURKB. Flow cytometry was performed to assess the effect of SIX3 on cell cycle distribution. Colony formation, EdU incorporation, transwell, and intracranial xenograft assays were performed to demonstrate the effect of SIX3 on the malignant phenotype of astrocytoma cells.ResultsSIX3 is identified as a novel negative transcriptional regulator of AURKA and AURKB, and it decreases the expression of AURKA and AURKB in a dose-dependent manner in astrocytoma cells. Importantly, interactions between AURKA and AURKB stabilize and protect AURKA/B from degradation, and overexpression of SIX3 does not affect these interactions; SIX3 also acts as a tumor suppressor, and it increases p53 activity and expression at the post-translational level by the negative regulation of AURKA or AURKB, reduces the events of numerical centrosomal aberrations and misaligned chromosomes, and significantly inhibits the proliferation, invasion, and tumorigenesis of astrocytoma in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, experiments using primary cultured astrocytoma cells indicate that astrocytoma patients with a low expression of SIX3 and mutant p53 are more sensitive to treatment with aurora kinase inhibitors.ConclusionSIX3 is a novel negative transcriptional regulator and acts as a tumor suppressor that directly represses the transcription of AURKA and AURKB in astrocytoma. For the first time, the functional interaction of AURKA and AURKB has been found, which aids in the protection of their stability, and partially explains their constant high expression and activity in cancers. SIX3 is a potential biomarker that could be used to predict the response of astrocytoma patients to aurora kinase inhibitors.

Combination of WEE1 and AURKA inhibition in HPV negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

e14105 Background: Aurora Kinase A (AURKA) is overexpressed in HNSCC, and correlates with poor prognosis. It has been identified as a potential therapeutic target, yet the response rate for the AURKA inhibitor MLN8237 is only 9% in treatment refractory HNSCC. We hypothesized that although AURKA inhibitors lead to defective spindle assembly, they may also reduce mitotic entry, undermining cytotoxic effect. We predicted that adding a WEE1 inhibitor to an AURKA inhibitor would mitigate this effect and enhance cell death Methods: Cell viability assays were performed on FaDu ( p53 mut.), Detroit562 ( p53 mut.), and UNC7 ( p53 WT) HPV negative HNSCC cell lines treated with AZD1775 (AZD), MLN8237 (MLN), and combination of AZD+MLN. Oncosphere formation assays were used to confirm findings of cell death, and western blot analysis and confocal microscopy were used to investigate mechanism of synergy. The above drugs were also given at varying doses via oral gavage to FaDu xenografted nude mice. Results: There was clear synergy of AZD and MLN in-vitro. Combination Indices were determined by the Chou-Talalay method: FaDu 0.4, Detroit562 0.5, and UNC7 0.6 (synergy = < 0.8). Oncopshere assays showed inability of AZD+MLN treated cells to re-differentiate. FaDu cells treated with MLN had increased p-CDK1 and reduced phospho-histone H3 (pHH3), suggesting reduced mitotic entry. AZD+MLN treated cells had reduced p-CDK1 and increased pHH3, similar to AZD treated cells; they also had spindle disarray with poor chromatin organization on confocal microscopy indicating mitotic catastrophe. In mice, the combination of AZD+MLN inhibited tumor growth, with no apparent toxicity. Mice treated with either drug alone had tumor volumes over 1000mm3 and were sacrificed at day 21; those treated with AZD 90mg/kg and MLN 30mg/kg had tumors volumes around 300mm3 on day 28. Conclusions: AZD and MLN synergistically enhance cell death in HNSCC cell lines and significantly inhibit tumor growth in mouse xenograft models. The ability of AZD to overcome intrinsic resistance to MLN may underlie mechanism of synergy. We recommend further investigation of AURKA and WEE1 inhibition in other cancers with high AURKA expression, and in patients with HNSCC.

Aurora kinase A regulates Survivin stability through targeting FBXL7 in gastric cancer drug resistance and prognosis

Aurora kinase A (AURKA) has been implicated in the regulation of cell cycle progression, mitosis and a key number of oncogenic signaling pathways in various malignancies. However, little is known about its role in gastric cancer prognosis and genotoxic resistance. Here we found that AURKA was highly overexpressed in gastric cancer and inversely correlated with disease prognosis. Overexpression of AURKA exacerbated gastric cancer drug resistance through upregulating the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Survivin. Conversely, we demonstrated that AURKA depletion caused a decrease in Survivin protein levels by increasing its ubiquitylation and degradation. Mass spectrometric analysis revealed that upon AURKA depletion, Survivin bound to the FBXL7 E3 ubiquitin ligase, which induced ubiquitin-proteasome degradation of Survivin. In addition, we showed that AURKA regulated FBXL7 both at the levels of transcription and translation. Moreover, proteomic analysis of nuclear AURKA-interacting proteins identified Forkhead box protein P1 (FOXP1). We next showed that AURKA was required for FBXL7 transcription and that AURKA negatively regulated FOXP1-mediated FBXL7 expression. The physiological relevance of the regulation of Survivin by AURKA through the FOXP1–FBXL7 axis was further underscored by the significant positive correlations between AURKA and Survivin expression in gastric cancer patient samples. Moreover, the AURKA depletion or kinase inhibition-induced apoptotic cell death could be reversed by Survivin ectopic overexpression, further supporting that AURKA regulated Survivin to enhance drug resistance. In agreement, inhibition of AURKA synergistically enhanced the cytotoxic effect of DNA-damaging agents in cancer cells by suppressing Survivin expression. Taken together, our data suggest that AURKA restricts Survivin ubiquitylation and degradation in gastric cancer to promote drug resistance and hence the AURKA–Survivin axis can be targeted to promote the efficacy of DNA-damaging agents in gastric cancer.

FOXM1 recruits nuclear Aurora kinase A to participate in a positive feedback loop essential for the self-renewal of breast cancer stem cells

Substantial evidence suggests that breast cancer initiation, recurrence and drug resistance is supported by breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). Recently, we reported a novel role of Aurora kinase A (AURKA) in BCSCs, as a transactivating co-factor in the induction of the c-Myc oncoprotein. However, the mode of action and transcriptional network of nuclear AURKA in BCSCs remain unknown. Here, we report that nuclear AURKA can be recruited by Forkhead box subclass M1 (FOXM1) as a co-factor to transactivate FOXM1 target genes in a kinase-independent manner. In addition, we show that AURKA and FOXM1 participate in a tightly coupled positive feedback loop to enhance BCSC phenotype. Indeed, kinase-dead AURKA can effectively transactivate the FOXM1 promoter through a Forkhead response element, whereas FOXM1 can activate AURKA expression at the transcriptional level in a similar manner. Consistently, breast cancer patient samples portrayed a strong and significant correlation between the expression levels of FOXM1 and AURKA. Moreover, both FOXM1 and AURKA were essential for maintaining the BCSC population. Finally, we demonstrated that the AURKA inhibitor AKI603 and FOXM1 inhibitor thiostrepton acted synergistically to inhibit cytoplasmic AURKA activity and disrupt the nuclear AURKA/FOXM1-positive feedback loop, respectively, resulting in a more effective inhibition of the tumorigenicity and self-renewal ability of BCSCs. Collectively, our study uncovers a previously unknown tightly coupled positive feedback signalling loop between AURKA and FOXM1, crucial for BCSC self-renewal. Remarkably, our data reveal a novel potential therapeutic strategy for targeting both the cytoplasmic and nuclear AURKA function to effectively eliminate BCSCs, so as to overcome both breast cancer and drug resistance.

Aurora Kinase A Is a Prognostic Marker in Colorectal Adenocarcinoma.

BackgroundAurora kinase A (AURKA), or STK15/BTAK, is a member of the serine/threonine kinase family and plays important roles in mitosis and chromosome stability. This study investigated the clinical significance of AURKA expression in colorectal cancer patients in Korea.MethodsAURKA protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 151 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma using tissue microarray blocks. We analyzed the relationship between clinicopathological characteristics and AURKA expression. In addition, the prognostic significance of various clinicopathological data for progression-free survival (PFS) was assessed. Also we evaluated copy number variations by array comparative genomic hybridization and AURKA gene amplification using fluorescence in situ hybridization in colorectal carcinoma tissues.ResultsAURKA gene amplification was found more frequently in the 20q13.2–13.33 gain-positive group than the group with no significant gain on the AURKA-containing locus. AURKA protein expression was detected in 45% of the cases (68/151). Positive staining for AURKA was observed more often in male patients (p = .035) and distally located tumors (p = .021). PFS was shorter in patients with AURKA expression compared to those with low-level AURKA expression (p < .001). Univariate analysis revealed that AURKA expression (p = .001), age (p = .034), lymphatic invasion (p = .001), perineural invasion (p = .002), and TNM stage (p = .013) significantly affected PFS. In a multivariate analysis of PFS, a Cox proportional hazard model confirmed that AURKA expression was an independent and significant prognostic factor in colorectal adenocarcinoma (hazard ratio, 3.944; p < .001).ConclusionsAURKA could serve as an independent factor to predict a poor prognosis in Korean colorectal adenocarcinoma patients.

Aurora kinase-A overexpression in mouse mammary epithelium induces mammary adenocarcinomas harboring genetic alterations shared with human breast cancer.

Recent data from The Cancer Genome Atlas analysis have revealed that Aurora kinase A (AURKA) amplification and overexpression characterize a distinct subset of human tumors across multiple cancer types. Although elevated expression of AURKA has been shown to induce oncogenic phenotypes in cells in vitro, findings from transgenic mouse models of Aurora-A overexpression in mammary glands have been distinct depending on the models generated. In the present study, we report that prolonged overexpression of AURKA transgene in mammary epithelium driven by ovine β-lactoglobulin promoter, activated through multiple pregnancy and lactation cycles, results in the development of mammary adenocarcinomas with alterations in cancer-relevant genes and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. The tumor incidence was 38.9% (7/18) in Aurora-A transgenic mice at 16 months of age following 4-5 pregnancy cycles. Aurora-A overexpression in the tumor tissues accompanied activation of Akt, elevation of Cyclin D1, Tpx2 and Plk1 along with downregulation of ERα and p53 proteins, albeit at varying levels. Microarray comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analyses of transgenic mouse mammary adenocarcinomas revealed copy gain of Glp1r and losses of Ercc5, Pten and Tcf7l2 loci. Review of human breast tumor transcriptomic data sets showed association of these genes at varying levels with Aurora-A gain of function alterations. Whole exome sequencing of the mouse tumors also identified gene mutations detected in Aurora-A overexpressing human breast cancers. Our findings demonstrate that prolonged overexpression of Aurora-A can be a driver somatic genetic event in mammary adenocarcinomas associated with deregulated tumor-relevant pathways in the Aurora-A subset of human breast cancer.

Abstract 1441: Systems-level interrogation of resistance mechanisms to immunotherapy through pooled shRNA screens

Abstract Despite the impressive clinical efficacy of immunotherapy in some patients, many still do not respond or progress following an initial response. The molecular mechanisms underlying the tumor resistance in those non-responders remain largely undefined. To address this issue, we set out to perform high-throughput unbiased pooled shRNA screens to identify critical genes that confer immune resistance. Patient-derived melanoma cells were transduced with barcoded pooled lentiviral shRNA libraries that targeted the human kinome, followed by exposure to cytotoxicity mediated by autologous tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. Tumor cells were then subject to genomic deep sequencing and integrated analysis to identify depleted barcodes and corresponding genes. One identified candidate of particular interest is Aurora Kinase A (AURKA), a cell cycle regulator that has previously been shown to contribute to tumorigenesis and correlate with poor prognosis for cancer patients. Importantly, our independent screening with a bioactive compound library also implicated Aurora Kinase as an immune resistance candidate against T cell immunotherapy. Further studies showed that suppression of Aurora kinase activity with a pan inhibitor - AMG900, exhibited a synergistic cytotoxic effect with tumor infiltrating lymphocyte-mediated killing on autologous tumor cells from patients. Furthermore, our Nanostring analysis of tumor biopsies from patients that received adoptive T cell therapy revealed significantly increased expression of AURKA in tumors from non-responding patient when compared with responder counterparts. These results have substantiated the validity of our pooled shRNA screening platform. Further investigations are ongoing to elucidate the underpinnings of Aurora kinase-mediated tumor resistance to immunotherapy and to functionally and physiologically validate other putative targets we have identified. Citation Format: Zhe Wang, Shruti Malu, Weiyi Peng, Jodi McKenzie, Rina Mbofung, Leila Williams, Sahil Seth, Tim Heffernan, Patrick Hwu. Systems-level interrogation of resistance mechanisms to immunotherapy through pooled shRNA screens. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1441.

Silencing Aurora-A with siRNA inhibits cell proliferation in human lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Aurora kinase A (AURKA) is an oncogenic serine/threonine kinase, it plays important roles in tumorigenesis and chemoresistance. In this study, we investigated the expression of AURKA in lung adenocarcinoma tissues, the role of small interference RNA targeting AURKA on growth, cell cycle, and apoptosis of lung adenocarcinoma cell lines invitro. The AURKA is highly expressed in lung adenocarcinoma tissues and human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. Lentivirus-mediated short hairpin RNA (shRNA) was used to knock down AURKA expression in human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines H1299 and A549. The results indicated that depletion of AURKA could inhibit cell growth, cause cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The potential mechanisms of AURKA inhibition induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis are associated with downregulated RAF-1, CCND2, CCND3, CDK4, PAK4, EGFR and upregulated WEE1 expression. Furthermore, AURKA knockdown cooperated with vincristine (VCR) to repress A549 cell proliferation. Therefore, AURKA plays important roles in the proliferation of human lung adenocarcinoma cells, which suggests that AURKA could be a promising tool for lung adenocarcinoma therapy.

Reversine triggers mitotic catastrophe and apoptosis in K562 cells

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a clonal myeloproliferative neoplasm of the hematopoietic stem cell characterized by presence of the oncoprotein BCR-ABL1, which have constitutive tyrosine kinase activity. BCR-ABL1 activation induces aurora kinase A (AURKA) and aurora kinase B (AURKB) expression, which are serine-threonine kinases that play an important function in chromosome alignment, segregation and cytokinesis during mitosis. Acquisition of resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors has emerged as a problem for CML patients and the identification of novel targets with an important contribution for CML phenotype is of interest. In the present study, we explored the cellular effects of reversine, an AURKA and AURKB inhibitor, in the BCR-ABL1+ K562 cells. Our results indicate that reversine reduces AURKA and AURKB expression, leads to reduction of cell viability and increased apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner, as well as, induces mitotic catastrophe in K562 cells. Our preclinical study establishes that reversine presents an effective antileukemia activity against K562 cells and provide new insights on anticancer opportunities for CML.

Aurora kinase A revives dormant laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells via FAK/PI3K/Akt pathway activation.

Revival of dormant tumor cells may be an important tumor metastasis mechanism. We hypothesized that aurora kinase A (AURKA), a cell cycle control kinase, promotes the transition of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) cells from G0 phase to active division. We therefore investigated whether AURKA could revive dormant tumor cells to promote metastasis. Western blotting revealed that AURKA expression was persistently low in dormant laryngeal cancer Hep2 (D-Hep2) cells and high in non-dormant (T-Hep2) cells. Decreasing AURKA expression in T-Hep2 cells induced dormancy and reduced FAK/PI3K/Akt pathway activity. Increasing AURKA expression in D-Hep2 cells increased FAK/PI3K/Akt pathway activity and enhanced cellular proliferation, migration, invasion and metastasis. In addition, FAK/PI3K/Akt pathway inhibition caused dormancy-like behavior and reduced cellular mobility, migration and invasion. We conclude that AURKA may revive dormant tumor cells via FAK/PI3K/Akt pathway activation, thereby promoting migration and invasion in laryngeal cancer. AURKA/FAK/PI3K/Akt inhibitors may thus represent potential targets for clinical LSCC treatment.

Activation of the FAK/PI3K pathway is crucial for AURKA-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in laryngeal cancer.

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors, and the main cause of death is metastasis. Overexpression of aurora kinaseA (AURKA) plays an important role in the metastasis of LSCC. However, the mechanism by which AURKA promotes the metastasis of LSCC is poorly understood. Recent accumulating evidence indicates that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) may be one of the mechanisms of tumor metastasis. In the present study, we studied whether AURKA may induce EMT to promote the metastasis of LSCC. CCK-8 and plate colony-formation assays were carried out to show that AURKA significantly promoted the proliferation of Hep2 cells. Immunofluorescence staining and western blotting showed that EMT-related proteins changed in a time-dependent manner along with the alteration of AURKA, with decreased expression of N-cadherin, vimentin and slug and increased expression of E-cadherin. Additionally, downregulation of the expression of AURKA inhibited FAK/PI3K pathway activity. Inhibition of the FAK/PI3K pathway caused less mesenchymal-like characteristics and reduced the mobility, migration and invasion of Hep2 cells. In conclusion, AURKA may induce EMT to promote metastasis via activation of the FAK/PI3K pathway in LSCC. Those regulatory factors may present new diagnostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for LSCC.

MiR-137 suppresses tumor growth of malignant melanoma by targeting aurora kinase A

As an oncogene, aurora kinase A (AURKA) is overexpressed in various types of human cancers. However, the expression and roles of AURKA in malignant melanoma are largely unknown. In this study, a miR-137-AURKA axis was revealed to regulate melanoma growth. We found a significant increase in levels of AURKA in melanoma. Both genetic knockdown and pharmacologic inhibition of AURKA decreased tumor cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Further found that miR-137 reduced AURKA expression through interaction with its 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) and that miR-137 was negatively correlated with AURKA expression in melanoma specimens. Overexpression of miR-137 decreased cell proliferation and colony formation in vitro. Notably, re-expression of AURKA significantly rescued miR-137-mediated suppression of cell growth and clonality. In summary, these results reveal that miR-137 functions as a tumor suppressor by targeting AURKA, providing new insights into investigation of therapeutic strategies against malignant melanoma.

A MYC-aurora kinase A protein complex represents an actionable drug target in p53-altered liver cancer.

MYC oncoproteins are involved in the genesis and maintenance of the majority of human tumors but are considered undruggable. By using a direct in vivo shRNA screen, we show that liver cancer cells that have mutations in the gene encoding the tumor suppressor protein p53 (Trp53 in mice and TP53 in humans) and that are driven by the oncoprotein NRAS become addicted to MYC stabilization via a mechanism mediated by aurora kinase A (AURKA). This MYC stabilization enables the tumor cells to overcome a latent G2/M cell cycle arrest that is mediated by AURKA and the tumor suppressor protein p19(ARF). MYC directly binds to AURKA, and inhibition of this protein-protein interaction by conformation-changing AURKA inhibitors results in subsequent MYC degradation and cell death. These conformation-changing AURKA inhibitors, with one of them currently being tested in early clinical trials, suppressed tumor growth and prolonged survival in mice bearing Trp53-deficient, NRAS-driven MYC-expressing hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). TP53-mutated human HCCs revealed increased AURKA expression and a positive correlation between AURKA and MYC expression. In xenograft models, mice bearing TP53-mutated or TP53-deleted human HCCs were hypersensitive to treatment with conformation-changing AURKA inhibitors, thus suggesting a therapeutic strategy for this subgroup of human HCCs.

Abstract P6-13-04: A phase I trial to evaluate the safety of the addition of alisertib to fulvestrant in hormone receptor positive (HR+), advanced breast cancer

Abstract Background: During tumor progression, activation of Aurora A kinase (AURKA) is associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) reprogramming and expansion of a subpopulation of tumor initiating cells harboring a CD44+/CD24low/- phenotype [D'Assoro, Oncogene 2014]. These cells are characterized by their capacity to self-renew, resist drug therapies, and promote distant metastases. In ER+ breast cancer (BC) models, activation of AURKA is associated with down-regulation of ERα expression and resistance to endocrine therapy. Alisertib, a selective inhibitor of AURKA, can reverse EMT and restore tumor ERα expression and sensitivity to endocrine therapy [Opyrchal, PLoS One 2014]. As a single agent in HR+ advanced BC, alisertib was associated with a 6-month clinical benefit rate of 54% and median PFS of 7.9 months [Melichar, Lancet Oncol 2015]. The objectives of this phase I trial were to determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and evaluate the toxicities and clinical activity of alisertib with fulvestrant in patients (pts) with HR+ advanced BC. Methods: In this standard 3+3 dose-escalation phase I study, pts were assigned to two different oral doses of alisertib (40-50 mg BID on days 1-3, 8-10, 15-17 q 28-day cycle) in combination with standard dose fulvestrant (500 mg IM on day 1 and 15 of cycle 1 and then day 1 q 28-day cycle thereafter). Eligibility included HR+ advanced BC, postmenopausal status, measurable disease or nonmeasurable bone disease by RECIST v1.1, ECOG performance status ≤ 1, unlimited prior endocrine therapies, and ≤ 2 chemotherapy regimens in the metastatic setting. Results: Ten pts enrolled September 2014 - April 2015, and 9 were evaluable for the primary endpoint (one excluded due to ineligibility). The median pt age was 59 (range 48, 73). Prior endocrine therapies included AI (9, 100%), fulvestrant (6, 67%), and everolimus/exemestane (5, 56%). Eight pts (89%) had prior chemotherapy. A median of 4 cycles of therapy have been administered (range 1+, 9+). There were no severe (grade 3+) toxicities reported during cycle 1 at either dose level, thus the MTD was not reached. The cycle 1 grade 1/2 adverse events regardless of attribution were fatigue (6, 67%), neutropenia (5, 56%), anemia (5, 56%), leukopenia (4, 44%), diarrhea (3, 33%), nausea (3, 33%), and mucositis (1, 11%). As of June 3, 2015, 2 pts have discontinued treatment due to disease progression, and 7 remain on treatment with stable disease (Table). One pt with bone only disease had a near CR on PET scan. Dose LevelAlisertib Dose (BID)Treatment Cycles≥ Grade 3 Toxicity, All CyclesProgression-Free Survival (days)1 (n=3)40 mg4, 7+, 9+ 117, 170+, 223+2 (n=6)50 mg1+, 2, 3+, 3+, 4+, 5+grade 4 neutropenia (1 pt)28+, 56, 56+, 57+, 112+, 116++ indicates patients still receiving treatment Conclusion: Alisertib in combination with fulvestrant was well-tolerated. The recommended phase II dose is 50 mg twice daily on days 1-3, 8-10, and 15-17 q 28-day cycle with standard dose fulvestrant. Promising antitumor activity was observed. Correlative tissue evaluation of AURKA expression and other EMT biomarkers is underway. Funding: This work was funded by Takeda Oncology and supported by NIH Grant K12 CA90628 [TCH]. Citation Format: Haddad TC, D'Assoro AB, Suman VJ, Opyrchal M, Goetz MP, Ingle JN. A phase I trial to evaluate the safety of the addition of alisertib to fulvestrant in hormone receptor positive (HR+), advanced breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-13-04.

Expression of aurora kinase A correlates with the Wnt-modulator RACGAP1 in gastric cancer.

Canonical Wnt signaling is involved in gastric carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to identify the link between Wnt signaling and aurora kinase A (AURKA), a target for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers. Publicly available microarray data were used to identify phenotype‐specific protein–protein interaction (PPI) subnetworks. The in silico analysis revealed a gastric cancer‐specific PPI subnetwork consisting of 2745 proteins and 50,935 interactions. We focused on the link of AURKA to a Wnt‐specific interaction module consisting of 92 proteins. There was a direct association of AURKA with Rac GTPase‐activating protein 1 (RACGAP1), as well as with CTNBB1 (β‐catenin) and CDKN1A as second‐order interactors. Differential expression analysis revealed a significant downregulation of both AURKA and RACGAP1 in gastric cancer compared to noncancer controls. Biopsies from a prospective cohort of 56 patients with gastric cancer (32 intestinal type, 24 diffuse type) and 20 noncancer controls were used for validation of the identified targets. The RT‐PCR data confirmed a strong correlation of AURKA and RACGAP1 gene expression both in the tumor, the tumor‐adjacent and the tumor‐distant mucosa. RACGAP1 in the tumor was also associated with CTNBB1 expression, and inversely associated with CDKN1A gene expression. Immunohistochemistry confirmed expression of the RACGAP1 protein in gastric cancer and the tumor‐adjacent mucosa. RACGAP1 expression was not associated with tumor stage, grading, Lauren type, Helicobacter pylori infection, or age. In conclusion, AURKA is directly associated with the expression of RACGAP1, a modulator of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway.

Results from a Phase 1 Study and Expanded Cohort of an Interrupted Dosing Schedule of the Aurora Kinase a Inhibitor MLN8237 Combined with Vorinostat in Lymphoid Malignancies

BackgroundMLN8237 is an oral inhibitor of aurora kinase A (AURKA) that causes mitotic spindle defects, mitotic delay, and apoptosis in lymphoma cell lines and mouse models. Human studies have shown promising responses in hematologic malignancies. Vorinostat is an oral HDAC inhibitor that is FDA-approved for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and is under study in other lymphomas. AURKA inhibitors in combination with vorinostat show synergistic pro-apoptotic effects in vitro in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) cell lines (Kretzner 2011, Cancer Res 71:3912). Our phase I multicenter study assessed the safety and tolerability of MLN8237 combined with vorinostat in patients with lymphoid malignancies [NCT01567709] and determined the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) to be 20 mg twice daily (BID) of MLN8237 and 200 mg BID of vorinostat orally in an interrupted dosing schedule (Schedule II). We have recently completed accrual to an expanded cohort at MTD and report preliminary data on our secondary endpoints among patients treated on Schedule II of this study.MethodsEligible patients were ≥18 years old with relapsed or refractory (r/r) lymphoid malignancies (HL, B-NHL, T-NHL), measureable disease, ECOG performance status 0-2, neutrophils ≥1500/µL, platelets ≥100,000/µL, and adequate kidney and liver function. Secondary endpoints were toxicities, clinical response, pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis, and correlative studies. A 3+2 modified rolling-6 design was employed to determine the MTD. Enrollment was initiated on a continuous dosing schedule (Schedule I) that was poorly tolerated, with adverse events (AEs) on dose levels 1 and 2 leading to many dose delays primarily due to gastrointestinal intolerance and myelosuppression. The protocol was amended to the interrupted dosing Schedule II: MLN8237 escalated from 20 to 50 mg BID on days 1-3 and 8-10, and vorinostat given at 200 mg BID on days 1-5 and 8-12 of a 21-day cycle.ResultsWe treated 25 patients (11 DLBCL, 7 HL, 3 FL, 2 MCL, 1 PTCL, 1 NK/T cell) on the interrupted dosing Schedule II. Median age was 59 years (range 26-78). Mediannumber of prior therapies was 4 (range 1-10); 9 patients (36%) underwent prior stem cell transplantation. See Table for treatment summary. MTD of the combination is 20 mg BID for MLN8237 and 200 mg BID for vorinostat on the interrupted schedule. The commonest (>5%) ≥ grade 3 drug-related AEs were neutropenia (52%), thrombocytopenia (44%), leukopenia (44%), anemia (28%), lymphopenia (24%), febrile neutropenia (12%), oral mucositis (8%), diarrhea (8%), and lung infection (8%). There were no study-related deaths. 4 patients stopped treatment due to AEs and 13 due to progressive disease (PD). 2 patients achieved complete remission (CR); both had DLBCL, and both halted therapy after completing 2 further cycles of treatment post-CR. They both remain in CR (18 months and 1 month at data lock). 1 patient had a partial response (PR), and 8 patients maintained stable disease (SD). PKs demonstrated a clearance of 230 L/h (sd=495) and 2.94 L/h (sd=1.57) for vorinostat and MLN8237, respectively. Archived baseline biopsies are being analyzed to determine AURKA expression. Six fresh paired tumor biopsies were obtained before and on-treatment in the expanded cohort at MTD for correlative studies.ConclusionsMLN8237 when given in combination with vorinostat is safe and tolerable in an interrupted dosing schedule among heavily pre-treated patients with r/r lymphoid malignancies. The MTD for MLN8237 is 20 mg BID on days 1-3 and 8-10, combined with vorinostat at 200 mg BID on days 1-5 and 8-12, of 21 day cycles. The commonest AEs were hematologic and gastrointestinal. Promising responses were seen in several patients, especially those with DLBCL, which support phase 2 exploration of this therapy in patients with intermediate-high grade NHL. PK analysis suggests that combination therapy exposures are similar to single agent exposure. Correlative studies done in a 12-patient expanded cohort will be presented. [Trial supported in part by UM1CA186717]Table 1Schedule II:MLN8237 (mg)/ Vorinostat (mg)# of patients treated# of cycles completed Median (range)# of dose limiting toxicities (DLT)DLT DescriptionBest responseDose level 1 (30/200)73 (0-18)21 pt had grade 3 febrile neutropenia; 1 pt had grade 3 thrombocytopenia requiring transfusion1 CR, 3 SD, 2 PD, 1 N/ADose level -1 (20/200)182 (0-14)01 CR, 1 PR, 5 SD, 8 PD, 3 too early to assess DisclosuresSiddiqi:Kite pharma: Other: attended advisory board meeting; Seattle Genetics: Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics/Jannsen: Speakers Bureau. Off Label Use: Vorinostat is only FDA-approved for CTCL but in this study it is being used in conjunction with MLN8237 (not FDA-approved) for all lymphomas.. Beumer:Millenium: Other: Research support. Forman:Mustang Therapeutics: Research Funding.

Molecular imaging of aurora kinase A (AURKA) expression: Synthesis and preclinical evaluation of radiolabeled alisertib (MLN8237)

IntroductionSurvival of patients after resection of colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRCLM) is 36%–58%. Positron emission tomography (PET) tracers, imaging the expression of prognostic biomarkers, may contribute to assign appropriate management to individual patients. Aurora kinase A (AURKA) expression is associated with survival of patients after CRCLM resection. MethodsWe synthesized [3H]alisertib and [11C]alisertib, starting from [3H]methyl nosylate and [11C]methyl iodide, respectively. We measured in vitro uptake of [3H]alisertib in cancer cells with high (Caco2), moderate (A431, HCT116, SW480) and low (MKN45) AURKA expression, before and after siRNA-mediated AURKA downmodulation, as well as after inhibition of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) activity. We measured in vivo uptake and biodistribution of [11C]alisertib in nude mice, xenografted with A431, HCT116 or MKN45 cells, or P-gp knockout mice. Results[3H]Alisertib was synthesized with an overall yield of 42% and [11C]alisertib with an overall yield of 23%±9% (radiochemical purity ≥99%). Uptake of [3H]alisertib in Caco2 cells was higher than in A431 cells (P=.02) and higher than in SW480, HCT116 and MKN45 cells (P<.01). Uptake in A431 cells was higher than in SW480, HCT116 and MKN45 cells (P<.01). Downmodulation of AURKA expression reduced [3H]alisertib uptake in Caco2 cells (P<.01). P-gp inhibition increased [3H]alisertib uptake in Caco2 (P<.01) and MKN45 (P<.01) cells. In vivo stability of [11C]alisertib 90min post-injection was 94.7%±1.3% and tumor-to-background ratios were 2.3±0.8 (A431), 1.6±0.5 (HCT116) and 1.9±0.5 (MKN45). In brains of P-gp knockout mice [11C]alisertib uptake was increased compared to uptake in wild-type mice (P<.01) ConclusionsRadiolabeled alisertib can be synthesized and may have potential for the imaging of AURKA, particularly when AURKA expression is high. However, the exact mechanisms underlying alisertib accumulation need further investigation. Advances in knowledge and implications for patient careRadiolabeled alisertib may be used for non-invasively measuring AURKA protein expression and to stratify patients for treatment accordingly.