Mammalian taste perception

What is the relationship of Aurora kinases and cancer? All three members of the Aurora kinase family are overexpressed in multiple solid tumors, which is perhaps not surprising considering their functions in cell division. As more and more smallmolecule Aurora kinase inhibitors are being developed, these inhibitors can be used not only for cell-biological studies on the functions of Aurora kinases, but also for developing new anti-cancer drugs. These inhibitors obstruct Aurora kinases, which in turn leads to aberrant mitosis. As a result, the p53-dependent checkpoint is activated and results in the induction of a G1like cell-cycle arrest. Several small-molecule inhibitors of Aurora kinases, such as VX-680, PHA739358 and AZD-1152, have shown anticancer effects in preclinical and clinical trials.