Expression of aurora kinase A is associated with metastasis-free survival in node-negative breast cancer patients
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Updated: May 16, 2026
Real-Time Monitoring of Aurora kinase A Activation using Conformational FRET Biosensors in Live Cells
Published on: July 30, 2020
Wulf Siggelkow1, Daniel Boehm, Susanne Gebhard
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Diakonischen Dienste Hannover GmbH, Diakoniekrankenhaus Henriettenstiftung und Diakoniekrankenhaus Friederikenstift, Hanover, Germany.
Background:
Inhibitors targeting the cell cycle-regulated aurora kinase A (AURKA) are currently being developed. Here, we examine the prognostic impact of AURKA in node-negative breast cancer patients without adjuvant systemic therapy (n = 766).
Methods:
AURKA was analyzed using microarray-based gene-expression data from three independent cohorts of node-negative breast cancer patients. In multivariate Cox analyses, the prognostic impact of age, histological grade, tumor size, estrogen receptor (ER), and HER2 were considered.
Results:
Patients with higher AURKA expression had a shorter metastasis-free survival (MFS) in the Mainz (HR 1.93; 95% CI 1.34 - 2.78; P < 0.001), Rotterdam (HR 1.95; 95% CI 1.45- 2.63; P<0.001) and Transbig (HR 1.52; 95% CI 1.14-2.04; P=0.005) cohorts. AURKA was also associated with MFS in the molecular subtype ER+/HER2- carcinomas (HR 2.10; 95% CI 1.70-2.59; P<0.001), but not in ER-/HER2- nor in HER2+ carcinomas. In the multivariate Cox regression adjusted to age, grade and tumor size, AURKA showed independent prognostic significance in the ER+/HER2- subtype (HR 1.73; 95% CI 1.24-2.42; P=0.001). Prognosis of patients in the highest quartile of AURKA expression was particularly poor. In addition, AURKA correlated with the proliferation metagene (R=0.880; P<0.001), showed a positive association with grade (P<0.001), tumor size (P<0.001) and HER2 (P<0.001), and was inversely associated with ER status (P<0.001).
Conclusions:
AURKA is associated with worse prognosis in estrogen receptor positive breast carcinomas. Patients with the highest AURKA expression (>75% percentile) have a particularly bad prognosis and may profit from therapy with AURKA inhibitors.
Insights
High aurora kinase A (AURKA) expression indicates a worse prognosis in node-negative breast cancer patients. Patients with the highest AURKA levels may benefit from AURKA inhibitor therapies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Aurora kinase A (AURKA) inhibitors are under development for cancer therapy.
- The prognostic value of AURKA in node-negative breast cancer without adjuvant therapy is examined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prognostic significance of AURKA expression in node-negative breast cancer patients.
- To determine if AURKA expression can predict metastasis-free survival.
Main Methods:
- Gene expression data from three independent cohorts of node-negative breast cancer patients were analyzed.
- Multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed, considering age, grade, tumor size, ER, and HER2 status.
Main Results:
- Higher AURKA expression correlated with shorter metastasis-free survival (MFS) across all cohorts.
- AURKA showed independent prognostic significance in ER+/HER2- breast carcinomas.
- AURKA expression was associated with proliferation, grade, tumor size, HER2 status, and inversely with ER status.
Conclusions:
- AURKA is linked to a worse prognosis in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.
- Patients with the highest AURKA expression (>75th percentile) face a particularly poor prognosis.
- These findings suggest potential benefit from AURKA inhibitors for patients with high AURKA expression.
