Targeting cell cycle kinases and kinesins in anticancer drug development

The cell cycle is regulated by kinases such as the cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and non-CDKs, which include Aurora and polo-like kinases, as well as checkpoint proteins. Mitotic kinesins are involved in the establishment of the mitotic spindle formation and function, and also play a role in cell cycle control. The disruption of the cell cycle is a hallmark of malignancy. Genetic or epigenetic events result in the upregulation of these kinases and mitotic kinesins in a myriad of tumour types, suggesting that their inhibition could result in preferential targeting of malignant cells. Such findings make the development of these inhibitors a rational and attractive new area for cancer therapeutics. Although challenges of potency and non-specificity have hampered their progress through the clinic, several novel compounds are presently in various phases of clinical trial evaluation.