AURKA upregulation plays a role in fibroblast-reduced gefitinib sensitivity in the NSCLC cell line HCC827

AURKA promotes renal cell carcinoma progression via regulation of CCNB1 transcription

AURKA is a member of the serine/threonine kinase family and its kinase activity is crucial for the progression of mitosis. Recent studies have highlighted the therapeutic significance of AURKA inhibition in multiple cancer types. However, the specific mechanisms by which AURKA contributes to the progression of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have not been fully elucidated. In this study, AURKA expression level was identified in human RCC tissues by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. The function of AURKA on cell malignant phenotypes was evaluated in vitro after AURKA inhibition. The subcutaneous xenograft was conducted to confirm the in vivo effect of AURKA knockdown on growth of RCC cells. Finally, Co-IP, luciferase assay and ChIP experiments were performed to reveal the regulatory mechanism of AURKA on CCNB1. Our results showed a significant upregulation of AURKA in RCC tissues and cell lines, and a high AURKA expression was associated with poor prognosis. AURKA knockdown inhibited RCC cell proliferation and migration, induced cell apoptosis, and led to G1/G2 phase arrest. This effect was further confirmed by the use of an AURKA inhibitor. Mechanistically, AURKA interacted with E2F1, and subsequently recruited it to the promoter region of CCNB1. CCNB1 expression was essential for AURKA-induced RCC progression. Collectively, our results suggested that AURKA plays an important role in development of RCC via regulating CCNB1 transcription.

AURORA KINASE A and related downstream molecules: A potential network for cancer therapy

Aurora-A kinase (AURKA) belongs to the serine/threonine kinase family specific to cell division. In normal cells, activation of the AURKA protein is essential for regulating chromosomal segregation and centrosome maturation. The physiological concentration of AURKA accumulation has utmost importance during cell division. AURKA starts accumulating during the S phase of the cell cycle, gets functionally activated during the G2/M phase, attaches to the microtubule, and gets degraded during mitotic exit. Overexpression of AURKA could lead to deregulated cell cycle division, which is intrinsic to numerous cancers. Moreover, dysregulated AURKA affects various downstream molecules that aid in cancer pathogenesis. AURKA phosphorylates its substrates, including oncoproteins, transcriptional factors, tumor suppressor proteins, or other kinases central to various oncogenic signaling pathways critical to cancer. Considering the central role of AURKA in cell proliferation and tumorigenesis, targeting AURKA can be a novel alternative to cancer management. Several AURKA inhibitors have shown promising responses against different cancers either as a single agent or combined with various therapies. This chapter briefly discusses the role of AURKA and its downstream molecules in cancer vis-à-vis the role of AURKA inhibitor in chemoprevention.

Unweaving the mitotic spindle: A focus on Aurora kinase inhibitors in lung cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most aggressive malignancies, classified into two major histological subtypes: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), that accounts for about 85% of new diagnosis, and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), the other 15%. In the case of NSCLC, comprehensive genome sequencing has allowed the identification of an increasing number of actionable targets, which have become the cornerstone of treatment in the advanced setting. On the other hand, the concept of oncogene-addiction is lacking in SCLC, and the only innovation of the last 30 years has been the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors in extensive stage disease. Dysregulation of cell cycle is a fundamental step in carcinogenesis, and Aurora kinases (AURKs) are a family of serine/threonine kinases that play a crucial role in the correct advance through the steps of the cycle. Hyperexpression of Aurora kinases is a common protumorigenic pathway in many cancer types, including NSCLC and SCLC; in addition, different mechanisms of resistance to anticancer drugs rely on AURK expression. Hence, small molecule inhibitors of AURKs have been developed in recent years and tested in several malignancies, with different results. The aim of this review is to analyze the current evidences of AURK inhibition in lung cancer, starting from preclinical rationale to finish with clinical trials available up to now.

Antiproliferative Activity of a New Quinazolin-4(3H)-One Derivative via Targeting Aurora Kinase A in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common lung cancer subtype. Although chemotherapy and targeted therapy are used for the treatment of patients with NSCLC, the survival rate remains very low. Recent findings suggested that aurora kinase A (AKA), a cell cycle regulator, is a potential target for NSCLC therapy. Previously, we reported that a chemical entity of quinazolin-4(3H)-one represents a new template for AKA inhibitors, with antiproliferative activity against cancer cells. A quinazolin-4(3H)-one derivative was further designed and synthesized in order to improve the pharmacokinetic properties and antiproliferation activity against NSCLC cell lines. The derivative, BIQO-19 (Ethyl 6-(4-oxo-3-(pyrimidin-2-ylmethyl)-3,4-dihydroquinazolin-6-yl)imidazo [1,2-a]pyridine-2-carboxylate), exhibited improved solubility and antiproliferative activity in NSCLC cells, including epidermal growth factor receptor–tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI)-resistant NSCLC cells. BIQO-19 effectively inhibited the growth of the EGFR-TKI-resistant H1975 NSCLC cells, with the suppression of activated AKA (p-AKA) expression in these cells. The inhibition of AKA by BIQO-19 significantly induced G₂/M phase arrest and subsequently evoked apoptosis in H1975 cells. In addition, the combination of gefitinib and BIQO-19 exhibited synergistic antiproliferative activity in NSCLC cells. These findings suggest the potential of BIQO-19 as a novel therapeutic agent for restoring the sensitivity of gefitinib in EGFR-TKI-resistant NSCLC cells.

A Transcriptomic Approach to Elucidate the Mechanisms of Gefitinib-Induced Toxicity in Healthy Human Intestinal Organoids

Gefitinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that selectively inhibits the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), hampering cell growth and proliferation. Due to its action, gefitinib has been used in the treatment of cancers that present abnormally increased expression of EGFR. However, side effects from gefitinib therapy may occur, among which diarrhoea is most common, that can lead to interruption of the planned therapy in the more severe cases. The mechanisms underlying intestinal toxicity induced by gefitinib are not well understood. Therefore, this study aims at providing insight into these mechanisms based on transcriptomic responses induced in vitro. A 3D culture of healthy human colon and small intestine (SI) organoids was exposed to 0.1, 1, 10 and 30 µM of gefitinib, for a maximum of three days. These drug concentrations were selected using physiologically-based pharmacokinetic simulation considering patient dosing regimens. Samples were used for the analysis of viability and caspase 3/7 activation, image-based analysis of structural changes, as well as RNA isolation and sequencing via high-throughput techniques. Differential gene expression analysis showed that gefitinib perturbed signal transduction pathways, apoptosis, cell cycle, FOXO-mediated transcription, p53 signalling pathway, and metabolic pathways. Remarkably, opposite expression patterns of genes associated with metabolism of lipids and cholesterol biosynthesis were observed in colon versus SI organoids in response to gefitinib. These differences in the organoids’ responses could be linked to increased activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity in colon, which can influence the sensitivity of the colon to the drug. Therefore, this study sheds light on how gefitinib induces toxicity in intestinal organoids and provides an avenue towards the development of a potential tool for drug screening and development.

Expression of FOXM1 and Aurora-A predicts prognosis and sorafenib efficacy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND:

Effective prognostic biomarkers and powerful target-therapeutic drugs are needed for improving the treatment of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

OBJECTIVE:

This study aimed to evaluate the expression of FOXM1 and Aurora-A and their prognostic value in HCC.

METHODS:

We determined the differentially expressed genes signature in HCC using the Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), and then evaluated the expression of FOXM1 and Aurora-A in TCGA and KMUH cohort. Associations between co-expression of FOXM1 and Aurora-A and clinical variables were calculated. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were estimated with different FOXM1 and Aurora-A expression status.

RESULTS:

FOXM1-related gene sets were mostly associated with cell cycle regulation in HCC tissues. We found a positive correlation between the expression of FOXM1 and Aurora-A. Overexpression of FOXM1 and Aurora-A was associated with larger tumor size, advanced stage, higher grade, and double-positive for HBV and HCV. The coordinated overexpression of FOXM1 and Aurora-A was the most significant independent prognostic factor for OS and RFS. Furthermore, the concomitant high expression of FOXM1 and Aurora-A predicted the worst OS of sorafenib-treated patients with HCC.

CONCLUSIONS:

The co-expression of FOXM1 and Aurora-A could be a reliable biomarker to predict the sorafenib response and prognosis of HCC patients.

Mechanisms of tRNA-derived fragments and tRNA halves in cancer treatment resistance

The tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) and tRNA halves (tiRNAs) are newly discovered noncoding RNAs in recent years. They are derived from specific cleavage of mature and pre-tRNAs and expressed in various cancers. They enhance cell proliferation and metastasis or inhibit cancer progression. Many studies have investigated their roles in the diagnosis, progression, metastasis, and prognosis of various cancers, but the mechanisms through which they are involved in resistance to cancer treatment are unclear. This review outlines the classification of tRFs and tiRNAs and their mechanisms in cancer drug resistance, thus providing new ideas for cancer treatment.

The role of Aurora-A in human cancers and future therapeutics

Aurora-A is a mitotic serine/threonine-protein kinase and an oncogene. In normal cells, Aurora-A appears from G2 phase and localizes at the centrosome, where it participates in centrosome replication, isolation and maturation. Aurora-A also maintains Golgi apparatus structure and spindle assembly. Aurora-A undergoes ubiquitination-mediated degradation after the cell division phase. Aurora-A is abnormally expressed in tumor cells and promotes cell proliferation by regulating mitotic substrates, such as PP1, PLK1, TPX2, and LAST2, and affects other molecules through a non-mitotic pathway to promote cell invasion and metastasis. Some molecules in tumor cells also indirectly act on Aurora-A to regulate tumor cells. Aurora-A also mediates resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy and is involved in tumor immunotherapy. Clinical trials of Aurora-A molecular inhibitors are currently underway, and clinical transformation is just around the corner.

Bioinformatic analysis revealing mitotic spindle assembly regulated NDC80 and MAD2L1 as prognostic biomarkers in non-small cell lung cancer development

Background

Lung cancer has been the leading cause of tumor related death, and 80% ~ 85% of it is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Even with the rising molecular targeted therapies, for example EGFR, ROS1 and ALK, the treatment is still challenging. The study is to identify credible responsible genes during the development of NSCLC using bioinformatic analysis, developing new prognostic biomarkers and potential gene targets to the disease.

Methods

Firstly, three genes expression profiles GSE44077, GSE18842 and GSE33532 were picked from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) to analyze the genes with different expression level (GDEs) between NSCLC and normal lung samples, and the cellular location, molecular function and the biology pathways the GDEs enriched in were analyzed. Then, gene function modules of GDEs were explored based on the protein-protein interaction network (PPI), and the top module which contains most genes was identified, followed by containing genes annotation and survival analysis. Moreover, multivariate cox regression analysis was performed in addition to the Kaplan meier survival to narrow down the key genes scale. Further, the clinical pathological features of the picked key genes were explored using TCGA data.

Results

Three GEO profiles shared a total of 664 GDEs, including 232 up-regulated and 432 down-regulated genes. Based on the GDEs PPI network, the top function module containing a total of 69 genes was identified, and 31 of 69 genes were mitotic cell cycle regulation related. And survival analysis of the 31 genes revealed that 17/31 genes statistical significantly related to NSCLC overall survival, including 4 spindle assembly checkpoints, namely NDC80, BUB1B, MAD2L1 and AURKA. Further, multivariate cox regression analysis identified NDC80 and MAD2L1 as independent prognostic indicators in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) respectively. Interestingly, pearson correlation analysis indicated strong connection between the four genes NDC80, BUB1B, MAD2L1 and AURKA, and their clinical pathological features were addressed.

Conclusions

Using bioinformatic analysis of GEO combined with TCGA data, we revealed two independent prognostic indicators in LUAD and LUSC respectively and analyzed their clinical features. However, more detailed experiments and clinical trials are needed to verify their drug targets role in clinical medical use.

Establishment of a CALU, AURKA, and MCM2 gene panel for discrimination of metastasis from primary colon and lung cancers

Metastasis is known as a key step in cancer recurrence and could be stimulated by multiple factors. Calumenin (CALU) is one of these factors which has a direct impact on cancer metastasis and yet, its underlined mechanisms have not been completely elucidated. The current study was aimed to identify CALU co-expressed genes, their signaling pathways, and expression status within the human cancers. To this point, CALU associated genes were visualized using the Cytoscape plugin BisoGenet and annotated with the Enrichr web-based application. The list of CALU related diseases was retrieved using the DisGenNet, and cancer datasets were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and analyzed with the Cufflink software. ROC curve analysis was used to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of DEGs in each cancer, and the Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was performed to plot the overall survival of patients. The protein level of the signature biomarkers was measured in 40 biopsy specimens and matched adjacent normal tissues collected from CRC and lung cancer patients. Analysis of CALU co-expressed genes network in TCGA datasets indicated that the network is markedly altered in human colon (COAD) and lung (LUAD) cancers. Diagnostic accuracy estimation of differentially expressed genes showed that a gene panel consisted of CALU, AURKA, and MCM2 was able to successfully distinguish cancer tumors from healthy samples. Cancer cases with abnormal expression of the signature genes had a significantly lower survival rate than other patients. Additionally, comparison of CALU, AURKA, and MCM2 proteins between healthy samples, early and advanced tumors showed that the level of these proteins was increased through normal–carcinoma transition in both types of cancers. These data indicate that the interactions between CALU, AURKA, and MCM2 has a pivotal role in cancer development, and thereby needs to be explored in the future.

Identification of lung adenocarcinoma biomarkers based on bioinformatic analysis and human samples

Lung adenocarcinoma is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. Although efforts have been made to clarify its pathology, the underlying molecular mechanisms of lung adenocarcinoma are still not clear. The microarray datasets GSE75037, GSE63459 and GSE32863 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify biomarkers for effective lung adenocarcinoma diagnosis and therapy. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by GEO2R, and function enrichment analyses were conducted using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO). The STRING database and Cytoscape software were used to construct and analyze the protein-protein interaction network (PPI). We identified 376 DEGs, consisting of 83 upregulated genes and 293 downregulated genes. Functional and pathway enrichment showed that the DEGs were mainly focused on regulation of cell proliferation, the transforming growth factor β receptor signaling pathway, cell adhesion, biological adhesion, and responses to hormone stimulus. Sixteen hub genes were identified and biological process analysis showed that these 16 hub genes were mainly involved in the M phase, cell cycle phases, the mitotic cell cycle, and nuclear division. We further confirmed the two genes with the highest node degree, DNA topoisomerase IIα (TOP2A) and aurora kinase A (AURKA), in lung adenocarcinoma cell lines and human samples. Both these genes were upregulated and associated with larger tumor size. Upregulation of AURKA in particular, was associated with lymphatic metastasis. In summary, identification of the DEGs and hub genes in our research enables us to elaborate the molecular mechanisms underlying the genesis and progression of lung adenocarcinoma and identify potential targets for the diagnosis and treatment of lung adenocarcinoma.

ALI multilayered co-cultures mimic biochemical mechanisms of the cancer cell-fibroblast cross-talk involved in NSCLC MultiDrug Resistance

Background

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. This study focuses on its most common form, Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). No cure exists for advanced NSCLC, and patient prognosis is extremely poor. Efforts are currently being made to develop effective inhaled NSCLC therapies. However, at present, reliable preclinical models to support the development of inhaled anti-cancer drugs do not exist. This is due to the oversimplified nature of currently available in vitro models, and the significant interspecies differences between animals and humans.

Methods

We have recently established 3D Multilayered Cell Cultures (MCCs) of human NSCLC (A549) cells grown at the Air-Liquid Interface (ALI) as the first in vitro tool for screening the efficacy of inhaled anti-cancer drugs. Here, we present an improved in vitro model formed by growing A549 cells and human fibroblasts (MRC-5 cell line) as an ALI multilayered co-culture. The model was characterized over 14-day growth and tested for its response to four benchmarking chemotherapeutics.

Results

ALI multilayered co-cultures showed an increased resistance to the four drugs tested as compared to ALI multilayered mono-cultures. The signalling pathways involved in the culture MultiDrug Resistance (MDR) were influenced by the cancer cell-fibroblast cross-talk, which was mediated through TGF-β1 release and subsequent activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. As per in vivo conditions, when inhibiting mTOR phosphorylation, MDR was triggered by activation of the MEK/ERK pathway activation and up-regulation in cIAP-1/2 expression.

Conclusions

Our study opens new research avenues for the development of alternatives to animal-based inhalation studies, impacting the development of anti-NSCLC drugs.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-019-6038-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Increased AURKA promotes cell proliferation and predicts poor prognosis in bladder cancer

Background

Bladder cancer (BC) is the most common cancer of the urinary bladder and upper tract, in which the clinical management is limited. AURKA (aurora kinase A) has been identified as an oncogene in cancer development; however, its potential role and underlying mechanisms in the progression of BC remain unknown.

Results

In this study, we evaluated Aurora kinase A (AURKA) expression in patient samples by performing gene expression profiling, and found that AURKA expression levels were significantly higher in BC tissues than in normal tissues. Increased AURKA in BC was strongly associated with stage and grade. Moreover, BC patients with elevated AURKA achieved poor overall survival rates. The experiments in vitro comprehensively validated the critical role of AURKA in promoting BC cell proliferation using the methods of gene overexpression and gene silencing. Furthermore, we proved that AURKA inhibitor MLN8237 arrested BC cell growth and induced apoptosis.

Conclusions

These findings implicate AURKA acting as an effective biomarker for BC detection and prognosis, as well as therapeutic target.

Aurora kinase A drives the evolution of resistance to third-generation EGFR inhibitors in lung cancer

Although targeted therapies often elicit profound initial patient responses, these effects are transient due to residual disease leading to acquired resistance. How tumors transition between drug responsiveness, tolerance and resistance, especially in the absence of preexisting subclones, remains unclear. In epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant lung adenocarcinoma cells, we demonstrate that residual disease and acquired resistance in response to EGFR inhibitors requires Aurora kinase A (AURKA) activity. Nongenetic resistance through the activation of AURKA by its coactivator TPX2 emerges in response to chronic EGFR inhibition where it mitigates drug-induced apoptosis. Aurora kinase inhibitors suppress this adaptive survival program, increasing the magnitude and duration of EGFR inhibitor response in preclinical models. Treatment-induced activation of AURKA is associated with resistance to EGFR inhibitors in vitro, in vivo and in most individuals with EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma. These findings delineate a molecular path whereby drug resistance emerges from drug-tolerant cells and unveils a synthetic lethal strategy for enhancing responses to EGFR inhibitors by suppressing AURKA-driven residual disease and acquired resistance.

Combinatory use of distinct single-cell RNA-seq analytical platforms reveals the heterogeneous transcriptome response

Single-cell RNA-seq is a powerful tool for revealing heterogeneity in cancer cells. However, each of the current single-cell RNA-seq platforms has inherent advantages and disadvantages. Here, we show that combining the different single-cell RNA-seq platforms can be an effective approach to obtaining complete information about expression differences and a sufficient cellular population to understand transcriptional heterogeneity in cancers. We demonstrate that it is possible to estimate missing expression information. We further demonstrate that even in the cases where precise information for an individual gene cannot be inferred, the activity of given transcriptional modules can be analyzed. Interestingly, we found that two distinct transcriptional modules, one associated with the Aurora kinase gene and the other with the DUSP gene, are aberrantly regulated in a minor population of cells and may thus contribute to the possible emergence of dormancy or eventual drug resistance within the population.

Design, synthesis and biological activity of N4-phenylsubstituted-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-amines as dual inhibitors of aurora kinase A and epidermal growth factor receptor kinase

Simultaneous inhibition of multiple kinases has been suggested to provide synergistic effects on inhibition of tumour growth and resistance. This study describes the design, synthesis and evaluation of 18 compounds incorporating a pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine scaffold for dual inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor kinase (EGFR) and aurora kinase A (AURKA). Compounds 1-18 of this study demonstrate nanomolar inhibition of EGFR and micromolar inhibition of AURKA. Compounds 1-18 allow for a structure-activity relationships (SAR) analysis of the 4-anilino moiety for dual EGFR and AURKA inhibition. Compound 6, a 4-methoxyphenylpyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-amine, demonstrates single-digit micromolar inhibition of both AURKA and EGFR and provides evidence of a single molecule with dual activity against EGFR and AURKA. Compound 2, the most potent inhibitor of EGFR and AURKA from this series, has been further evaluated in four different squamous cell head and neck cancer cell lines for downstream effects resulting from AURKA and EGFR inhibition.