Length of mitotic arrest induced by microtubule-stabilizing drugs determines cell death after mitotic exit

Cell death induced by agents that disrupt microtubules can kill cells by inducing a prolonged mitotic block. This mitotic block is dependent on the spindle assembly checkpoint, a surveillance system that ensures the bipolar attachment of chromosomes to the mitotic spindle before the onset of anaphase. Under some conditions, the spindle assembly checkpoint can become weakened, allowing cells to exit mitosis despite the presence of chromosomes that are not properly attached to the mitotic spindle. Here, we use an Aurora kinase inhibitor to drive mitotic exit and test the effect of mitotic arrest length on death in the subsequent interphase. Cells that are blocked in mitosis for >15 h die shortly after exiting from mitosis, whereas cells that exit after being blocked for <15 h show variable fates, with some living for days after exiting mitosis. Cells blocked in mitosis by either Taxol or epothilone B are acutely sensitive to the death ligand tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, suggesting that prolonged mitosis allows the gradual accumulation of internal death signals, rendering cells hypersensitive to additional prodeath cues. Death under these conditions is initiated while cyclin B1 is still present, indicating that cells are in mitosis. Our experiments suggest that there is a point of no return during prolonged mitotic block after which mitotic exit can no longer block death.