Abstract
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.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 539-560 |
Number of pages | 22 |
Journal | Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery |
Volume | 2 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 1 2007 |
Keywords
- Aurora kinase
- Cell cycle
- Checkpoint inhibitors
- Cyclin-dependent kinase
- Mitotic kinesins
- Polo-like kinase
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Drug Discovery