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Zhou Q, Tao C, Yuan J, Pan F, Wang R. Knowledge mapping of AURKA in Oncology:An advanced Bibliometric analysis (1998-2023). Heliyon 2024; 10:e31945. [PMID: 38912486 PMCID: PMC11190563 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
AURKA, also known as Aurora kinase A, is a key molecule involved in the occurrence and progression of cancer. It plays crucial roles in various cellular processes, including cell cycle regulation, mitosis, and chromosome segregation. Dysregulation of AURKA has been implicated in tumorigenesis, promoting cell proliferation, genomic instability, and resistance to apoptosis. In this study, we conducted an extensive bibliometric analysis of research focusing on Aurora-A in the context of cancer by utilizing the Web of Science literature database. Various sophisticated computational tools, such as VOSviewer, Citespace, Biblioshiny R, and Cytoscape, were employed for comprehensive literature analysis and big data mining from January 1998 to September 2023.The primary objectives of our study were multi-fold. Firstly, we aimed to explore the chronological development of AURKA research, uncovering the evolution of scientific understanding over time. Secondly, we investigated shifting trends in research topics, elucidating areas of increasing interest and emerging frontiers. Thirdly, we delved into intricate signaling pathways and protein interaction networks associated with AURKA, providing insights into its complex molecular mechanisms. To further enhance the value of our bibliometric analysis, we conducted a meta-analysis on the prognostic value of AURKA in terms of patient survival. The results were visually presented, offering a comprehensive overview and future perspectives on Aurora-A research in the field of oncology. This study not only contributes to the existing body of knowledge but also provides valuable guidance for researchers, clinicians, and pharmaceutical professionals. By harnessing the power of bibliometrics, our findings offer a deeper understanding of the role of AURKA in cancer and pave the way for innovative research directions and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiong Zhou
- Department of Medical Oncology, Nanjing Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210093, PR China
| | - Chunyu Tao
- Department of Medical Oncology, Nanjing Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210093, PR China
| | - Jiakai Yuan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Nanjing Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210093, PR China
| | - Fan Pan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Nanjing Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210093, PR China
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Nanjing Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210093, PR China
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2
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AURKA is a prognostic potential therapeutic target in skin cutaneous melanoma modulating the tumor microenvironment, apoptosis, and hypoxia. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2022:10.1007/s00432-022-04164-1. [DOI: 10.1007/s00432-022-04164-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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3
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Fadaka AO, Sibuyi NRS, Madiehe AM, Meyer M. MicroRNA-based regulation of Aurora A kinase in breast cancer. Oncotarget 2020; 11:4306-4324. [PMID: 33245732 PMCID: PMC7679040 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The involvement of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in cellular physiology and disease pathogenesis is becoming increasingly relevant in recent years specifically in cancer research. Breast cancer (BC) has become a health concern and accounts for most of the cancer-related incidences and mortalities reported amongst females. In spite of the presence of promising tools for BC therapy, the mortality rate of metastatic BC cases is still high. Therefore, the genomic exploration of the BC subtype and the use of ncRNAs for possible regulation is pivotal. The expression and prognostic values of AURKA gene were assessed by Oncomine, GEPIA, KM-plotter, and bc-GenExMiner v4.4, respectively. Associated proteins and functional enrichment were evaluated by Cytoscape and DAVID databases. Additionally, molecular docking approach was employed to investigate the regulatory role of hsa-miR-32-3p assisted argonaute (AGO) protein of AURKA gene in BC. AURKA gene was highly expressed in patients with BC relative to normal counterpart and significantly correlated with poor survival. The docking result suggested that AURKA could be regulated by hsa-miR-32-3p as confirmed by the reported binding energy and specific interactions. The study gives some insights into role of AURKA and its regulation by microRNAs through AGO protein. It also provides exciting opportunities for cancer therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adewale Oluwaseun Fadaka
- Department of Science and Innovation/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, Biolabels Node, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Nicole Remaliah Samantha Sibuyi
- Department of Science and Innovation/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, Biolabels Node, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Abram Madimabe Madiehe
- Department of Science and Innovation/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, Biolabels Node, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa.,Nanobiotechnology Research Group, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Mervin Meyer
- Department of Science and Innovation/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, Biolabels Node, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
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4
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Grimaldi AM, Conte F, Pane K, Fiscon G, Mirabelli P, Baselice S, Giannatiempo R, Messina F, Franzese M, Salvatore M, Paci P, Incoronato M. The New Paradigm of Network Medicine to Analyze Breast Cancer Phenotypes. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E6690. [PMID: 32932728 PMCID: PMC7555916 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous and complex disease as witnessed by the existence of different subtypes and clinical characteristics that poses significant challenges in disease management. The complexity of this tumor may rely on the highly interconnected nature of the various biological processes as stated by the new paradigm of Network Medicine. We explored The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-BRCA data set, by applying the network-based algorithm named SWItch Miner, and mapping the findings on the human interactome to capture the molecular interconnections associated with the disease modules. To characterize BC phenotypes, we constructed protein-protein interaction modules based on "hub genes", called switch genes, both common and specific to the four tumor subtypes. Transcriptomic profiles of patients were stratified according to both clinical (immunohistochemistry) and genetic (PAM50) classifications. 266 and 372 switch genes were identified from immunohistochemistry and PAM50 classifications, respectively. Moreover, the identified switch genes were functionally characterized to select an interconnected pathway of disease genes. By intersecting the common switch genes of the two classifications, we selected a unique signature of 28 disease genes that were BC subtype-independent and classification subtype-independent. Data were validated both in vitro (10 BC cell lines) and ex vivo (66 BC tissues) experiments. Results showed that four of these hub proteins (AURKA, CDC45, ESPL1, and RAD54L) were over-expressed in all tumor subtypes. Moreover, the inhibition of one of the identified switch genes (AURKA) similarly affected all BC subtypes. In conclusion, using a network-based approach, we identified a common BC disease module which might reflect its pathological signature, suggesting a new vision to face with the disease heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Maria Grimaldi
- IRCCS SDN, Via Emanuele Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (A.M.G.); (K.P.); (P.M.); (S.B.); (M.F.); (M.S.)
| | - Federica Conte
- Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science “Antonio Ruberti”, National Research Council, 00185 Rome, Italy; (F.C.); (G.F.)
| | - Katia Pane
- IRCCS SDN, Via Emanuele Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (A.M.G.); (K.P.); (P.M.); (S.B.); (M.F.); (M.S.)
| | - Giulia Fiscon
- Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science “Antonio Ruberti”, National Research Council, 00185 Rome, Italy; (F.C.); (G.F.)
| | - Peppino Mirabelli
- IRCCS SDN, Via Emanuele Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (A.M.G.); (K.P.); (P.M.); (S.B.); (M.F.); (M.S.)
| | - Simona Baselice
- IRCCS SDN, Via Emanuele Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (A.M.G.); (K.P.); (P.M.); (S.B.); (M.F.); (M.S.)
| | - Rosa Giannatiempo
- Ospedale Evangelico Betania, Via Argine 604, 80147 Naples, Italy; (R.G.); (F.M.)
| | - Francesco Messina
- Ospedale Evangelico Betania, Via Argine 604, 80147 Naples, Italy; (R.G.); (F.M.)
| | - Monica Franzese
- IRCCS SDN, Via Emanuele Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (A.M.G.); (K.P.); (P.M.); (S.B.); (M.F.); (M.S.)
| | - Marco Salvatore
- IRCCS SDN, Via Emanuele Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (A.M.G.); (K.P.); (P.M.); (S.B.); (M.F.); (M.S.)
| | - Paola Paci
- Department of Computer, Control and Management Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Mariarosaria Incoronato
- IRCCS SDN, Via Emanuele Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (A.M.G.); (K.P.); (P.M.); (S.B.); (M.F.); (M.S.)
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Willems E, Dedobbeleer M, Digregorio M, Lombard A, Lumapat PN, Rogister B. The functional diversity of Aurora kinases: a comprehensive review. Cell Div 2018; 13:7. [PMID: 30250494 PMCID: PMC6146527 DOI: 10.1186/s13008-018-0040-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 222] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aurora kinases are serine/threonine kinases essential for the onset and progression of mitosis. Aurora members share a similar protein structure and kinase activity, but exhibit distinct cellular and subcellular localization. AurA favors the G2/M transition by promoting centrosome maturation and mitotic spindle assembly. AurB and AurC are chromosome-passenger complex proteins, crucial for chromosome binding to kinetochores and segregation of chromosomes. Cellular distribution of AurB is ubiquitous, while AurC expression is mainly restricted to meiotically-active germ cells. In human tumors, all Aurora kinase members play oncogenic roles related to their mitotic activity and promote cancer cell survival and proliferation. Furthermore, AurA plays tumor-promoting roles unrelated to mitosis, including tumor stemness, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and invasion. In this review, we aim to understand the functional interplay of Aurora kinases in various types of human cells, including tumor cells. The understanding of the functional diversity of Aurora kinases could help to evaluate their relevance as potential therapeutic targets in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estelle Willems
- 1Laboratory of Nervous System Diseases and Therapy, GIGA-Neuroscience, University of Liège, Avenue Hippocrate, 15, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Matthias Dedobbeleer
- 1Laboratory of Nervous System Diseases and Therapy, GIGA-Neuroscience, University of Liège, Avenue Hippocrate, 15, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Marina Digregorio
- 1Laboratory of Nervous System Diseases and Therapy, GIGA-Neuroscience, University of Liège, Avenue Hippocrate, 15, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Arnaud Lombard
- 1Laboratory of Nervous System Diseases and Therapy, GIGA-Neuroscience, University of Liège, Avenue Hippocrate, 15, 4000 Liège, Belgium.,2Department of Neurosurgery, CHU of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Paul Noel Lumapat
- 1Laboratory of Nervous System Diseases and Therapy, GIGA-Neuroscience, University of Liège, Avenue Hippocrate, 15, 4000 Liège, Belgium.,3Department of Neurology, CHU of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Bernard Rogister
- 1Laboratory of Nervous System Diseases and Therapy, GIGA-Neuroscience, University of Liège, Avenue Hippocrate, 15, 4000 Liège, Belgium.,3Department of Neurology, CHU of Liège, Liège, Belgium
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Yan M, Wang C, He B, Yang M, Tong M, Long Z, Liu B, Peng F, Xu L, Zhang Y, Liang D, Lei H, Subrata S, Kelley KW, Lam EWF, Jin B, Liu Q. Aurora-A Kinase: A Potent Oncogene and Target for Cancer Therapy. Med Res Rev 2016; 36:1036-1079. [PMID: 27406026 DOI: 10.1002/med.21399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2015] [Revised: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The Aurora kinase family is comprised of three serine/threonine kinases, Aurora-A, Aurora-B, and Aurora-C. Among these, Aurora-A and Aurora-B play central roles in mitosis, whereas Aurora-C executes unique roles in meiosis. Overexpression or gene amplification of Aurora kinases has been reported in a broad range of human malignancies, pointing to their role as potent oncogenes in tumorigenesis. Aurora kinases therefore represent promising targets for anticancer therapeutics. A number of Aurora kinase inhibitors (AKIs) have been generated; some of which are currently undergoing clinical evaluation. Recent studies have unveiled novel unexpected functions of Aurora kinases during cancer development and the mechanisms underlying the anticancer actions of AKIs. In this review, we discuss the most recent advances in Aurora-A kinase research and targeted cancer therapy, focusing on the oncogenic roles and signaling pathways of Aurora-A kinases in promoting tumorigenesis, the recent preclinical and clinical AKI data, and potential alternative routes for Aurora-A kinase inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Institute of Human Virology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunli Wang
- Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Cancer Center, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Bin He
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mengying Yang
- Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Cancer Center, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Mengying Tong
- Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Cancer Center, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Zijie Long
- Institute of Hematology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bing Liu
- Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Cancer Center, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Fei Peng
- Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Cancer Center, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Lingzhi Xu
- Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Cancer Center, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dapeng Liang
- Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Cancer Center, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Haixin Lei
- Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Cancer Center, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Sen Subrata
- Department of Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Keith W Kelley
- Laboratory of Immunophysiology, Department of Animal Sciences, College of ACES, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.,Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Eric W-F Lam
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Bilian Jin
- Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Cancer Center, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
| | - Quentin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. .,Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Cancer Center, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China. .,Institute of Hematology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
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7
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Expression of Aurora-B and FOXM1 predict poor survival in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Strahlenther Onkol 2015; 191:649-55. [PMID: 25986250 DOI: 10.1007/s00066-015-0840-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2015] [Accepted: 04/02/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this work was to investigate the relationship between Aurora-B, FOXM1, and clinical outcomes in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) who were treated with a combination of induction chemotherapy and radiotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS The expression of Aurora-B and FOXM1 were investigated by immunohistochemistry using a tissue microarray (TMA) containing samples from 166 NPC patients who were treated with cisplatin (DDP) + fluorouracil (5-FU) induction chemotherapy and radiotherapy between 1999 and 2005. The relationship of Aurora-B, FOXM1, and survival of these NPC patients was analyzed. RESULTS Informative TMA results were obtained in 91 tumor cases for Aurora-B and 93 tumor cases for FOXM1. The 8-year failure-free survival rate (FFS) for the Aurora-B-negative and Aurora-B-positive group was 65.6 and 37.3%, respectively (p = 0.024), and the 8-year distant FFS (D-FFS) rate was 65.6 and 41.5%, respectively (p = 0.047). The 8-year overall survival (OS) in the FOXM1-negative group was moderately higher than in the FOXM1-positive group (58.4 vs 39.1%, p = 0.081). Cox regression analysis revealed that for FFS, Aurora-B expression was a significant prognostic factor (p = 0.025), while for D-FFS, Aurora-B expression was a marginally significant prognostic factor (p = 0.056). When FOXM1 expression was analyzed, the Cox regression analyses showed that FOXM1 expression was a marginally significant prognostic factor (p = 0.056) for OS. Correlation analysis showed that Aurora-B and FOXM1 expression had no significant correlation. CONCLUSION Aurora-B and FOXM1 were both adverse prognostic markers for NPC patients treated with chemoradiotherapy. However, the two markers had no significant correlation.
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Zhang J, Li B, Yang Q, Zhang P, Wang H. Prognostic value of Aurora kinase A (AURKA) expression among solid tumor patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Jpn J Clin Oncol 2015; 45:629-36. [DOI: 10.1093/jjco/hyv058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Accepted: 03/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
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Baldini E, Tuccilli C, Prinzi N, Sorrenti S, Falvo L, De Vito C, Catania A, Tartaglia F, Mocini R, Coccaro C, Alessandrini S, Barollo S, Mian C, Antonelli A, De Antoni E, D’Armiento M, Ulisse S. Deregulated expression of Aurora kinases is not a prognostic biomarker in papillary thyroid cancer patients. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0121514. [PMID: 25807528 PMCID: PMC4373730 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Accepted: 02/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A number of reports indicated that Aurora-A or Aurora-B overexpression represented a negative prognostic factor in several human malignancies. In thyroid cancer tissues a deregulated expression of Aurora kinases has been also demonstrated, but no information regarding its possible prognostic role in differentiated thyroid cancer is available. Here, we evaluated Aurora-A and Aurora-B mRNA expression and its prognostic relevance in a series of 87 papillary thyroid cancers (PTC), with a median follow-up of 63 months. The analysis of Aurora-A and Aurora-B mRNA levels in PTC tissues, compared to normal matched tissues, revealed that their expression was either up- or down-regulated in the majority of cancer tissues. In particular, Aurora-A and Aurora-B mRNA levels were altered, respectively, in 55 (63.2%) and 79 (90.8%) out of the 87 PTC analyzed.A significant positive correlation between Aurora-A and Aurora-B mRNAs was observed (p=0.001). The expression of both Aurora genes was not affected by the BRAFV600E mutation. Univariate, multivariate and Kaplan-Mayer analyses documented the lack of association between Aurora-A or Aurora-B expression and clinicopathological parameters such as gender, age, tumor size, histology, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis and BRAF status as well as disease recurrences or disease-free interval. Only Aurora-B mRNA was significantly higher in T(3-4) tissues, with respect to T(1-2) PTC tissues. The data reported here demonstrate that the expression of Aurora kinases is deregulated in the majority of PTC tissues, likely contributing to PTC progression. However, differently from other human solid cancers, detection of Aurora-A or Aurora-B mRNAs is not a prognostic biomarker in PTC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enke Baldini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Tuccilli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Natalie Prinzi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Salvatore Sorrenti
- Department of Surgical Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Falvo
- Department of Surgical Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Corrado De Vito
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Catania
- Department of Surgical Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Renzo Mocini
- Department of Surgical Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmela Coccaro
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Susi Barollo
- Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Caterina Mian
- Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Alessandro Antonelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Enrico De Antoni
- Department of Surgical Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Salvatore Ulisse
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Baldini E, D'Armiento M, Ulisse S. A new aurora in anaplastic thyroid cancer therapy. Int J Endocrinol 2014; 2014:816430. [PMID: 25097550 PMCID: PMC4106108 DOI: 10.1155/2014/816430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2014] [Accepted: 06/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Anaplastic thyroid cancers (ATC) are among the most aggressive human neoplasms with a dire prognosis and a median survival time of few months from the diagnosis. The complete absence of effective therapies for ATC renders the identification of novel therapeutic approaches sorely needed. Chromosomal instability, a feature of all human cancers, is thought to represent a major driving force in thyroid cancer progression and a number of mitotic kinases showing a deregulated expression in malignant thyroid tissues are now held responsible for thyroid tumor aneuploidy. These include the three members of the Aurora family (Aurora-A, Aurora-B, and Aurora-C), serine/threonine kinases that regulate multiple aspects of chromosome segregation and cytokinesis. Over the last few years, several small molecule inhibitors targeting Aurora kinases were developed, which showed promising antitumor effects against a variety of human cancers, including ATC, in preclinical studies. Several of these molecules are now being evaluated in phase I/II clinical trials against advanced solid and hematological malignancies. In the present review we will describe the structure, expression, and mitotic functions of the Aurora kinases, their implications in human cancer progression, with particular regard to ATC, and the effects of their functional inhibition on malignant cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enke Baldini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Massimino D'Armiento
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Salvatore Ulisse
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
- *Salvatore Ulisse:
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