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Aurora kinase A, a synthetic lethal target for precision cancer medicine

Pui Kei Mou1, Eun Ju Yang1, Changxiang Shi1

  • 1Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China.

Experimental & Molecular Medicine
|May 29, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Synthetic lethality exploits gene interactions to kill cancer cells, especially those with mutated tumor suppressors. Aurora kinase A (AURKA) shows promise as a synthetic lethal target for novel precision cancer therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Precision medicine utilizes high-throughput sequencing and data science for targeted cancer treatment.
  • Synthetic lethality is a key strategy, exploiting gene interactions where combined deficiencies cause cell death.
  • This approach targets cancer cell dependencies on pathways essential for survival when tumor suppressors are mutated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review synthetic lethal interactions involving aurora kinase A (AURKA) and tumor suppressor partners.
  • To discuss the therapeutic potential of AURKA inhibitors in precision cancer medicine.

Main Methods:

  • Leveraging high-throughput screening to identify synthetic lethal interactions.
  • Investigating the role of AURKA in cell cycle regulation and DNA replication.
  • Analyzing the synthetic lethal interplay between AURKA and mutated tumor suppressors like p53, PTEN, and RB1.

Main Results:

  • Aurora kinase A (AURKA) has been identified as a synthetic lethal partner for multiple tumor suppressors.
  • The BRCA-PARP synthetic lethality has been successfully translated into clinical cancer treatment.
  • AURKA's role in mitosis and DNA replication makes it a viable target in synthetic lethality strategies.

Conclusions:

  • Synthetic lethality offers a way to target theoretically undruggable mutant tumor suppressors.
  • AURKA inhibitors represent a promising avenue for developing novel precision cancer therapies.
  • Targeting AURKA synthetic lethality could lead to new treatment options for various cancers.

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