Grisetti L, Garcia CJC, Saponaro AA, Tiribelli C, Pascut D. The role of Aurora kinase A in hepatocellular carcinoma: Unveiling the intriguing functions of a key but still underexplored factor in liver cancer.
Cell Prolif 2024;
57:e13641. [PMID:
38590119 PMCID:
PMC11294426 DOI:
10.1111/cpr.13641]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Aurora Kinase A (AURKA) plays a central role as a serine/threonine kinase in regulating cell cycle progression and mitotic functions. Over the years, extensive research has revealed the multifaceted roles of AURKA in cancer development and progression. AURKA's dysregulation is frequently observed in various human cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Its overexpression in HCC has been associated with aggressive phenotypes and poor clinical outcomes. This review comprehensively explores the molecular mechanisms underlying AURKA expression in HCC and its functional implications in cell migration, invasion, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, metastasis, stemness, and drug resistance. This work focuses on the clinical significance of AURKA as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for HCC. High levels of AURKA expression have been correlated with shorter overall and disease-free survival in various cohorts, highlighting its potential utility as a sensitive prognostic indicator. Recent insights into AURKA's role in modulating the tumour microenvironment, particularly immune cell recruitment, may provide valuable information for personalized treatment strategies. AURKA's critical involvement in modulating cellular pathways and its overexpression in cancer makes it an attractive target for anticancer therapies. This review discusses the evidence about novel and selective AURKA inhibitors for more effective treatments for HCC.
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