2. Academic Validation
  3. Combined inhibition of Aurora A and p21-activated kinase 1 as a new treatment strategy in breast cancer

Combined inhibition of Aurora A and p21-activated kinase 1 as a new treatment strategy in breast cancer

  • Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2019 Sep;177(2):369-382. doi: 10.1007/s10549-019-05329-2.
Vladislav Korobeynikov 1 2,  Michelle Borakove 3,  Yayi Feng 2,  William M Wuest 4,  Alex B Koval 5,  Anna S Nikonova 2,  Ilya Serebriiskii 2 6,  Jonathan Chernoff 7,  Virginia F Borges 3,  Erica A Golemis 2,  Elena Shagisultanova 8 9
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
  • 2 Molecular Therapeutics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA.
  • 3 University of Colorado Denver, Young Women's Breast Cancer Translational Program, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
  • 4 Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
  • 5 Department of Chemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA.
  • 6 Kazan Federal University, Kazan, 420000, Russian Federation.
  • 7 Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA.
  • 8 University of Colorado Denver, Young Women's Breast Cancer Translational Program, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA. [email protected].
  • 9 University of Colorado Denver, Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, 12801 East 17th Ave, Room 8118, MS 8117, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA. [email protected].
PMID: 31254157 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-019-05329-2
Abstract

Purpose: The serine-threonine kinases Aurora A (AURKA) and p21-Activated Kinase 1 (PAK1) are frequently overexpressed in breast tumors, with overexpression promoting aggressive breast Cancer phenotypes and poor clinical outcomes. Besides the well-defined roles of these proteins in control of cell division, proliferation, and invasion, both kinases support MAPK kinase pathway activation and can contribute to endocrine resistance by phosphorylating Estrogen Receptor alpha (ERα). PAK1 directly phosphorylates AURKA and its functional partners, suggesting potential value of inhibiting both kinases activity in tumors overexpressing PAK1 and/or AURKA. Here, for the first time, we evaluated the effect of combining the AURKA inhibitor alisertib and the PAK inhibitor FRAX1036 in preclinical models of breast Cancer.

Methods: Combination of alisertib and FRAX1036 was evaluated in a panel of 13 human breast tumor cell lines and BT474 xenograft model, with assessment of the cell cycle by FACS, and signaling changes by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Additionally, we performed in silico analysis to identify markers of response to alisertib and FRAX1036.

Results: Pharmacological inhibition of AURKA and PAK1 synergistically decreased survival of multiple tumor cell lines, showing particular effectiveness in luminal and HER2-enriched models, and inhibited growth and ERα-driven signaling in a BT474 xenograft model. In silico analysis suggested cell lines with dependence on AURKA are most likely to be sensitive to PAK1 inhibition.

Conclusion: Dual targeting of AURKA and PAK1 may be a promising therapeutic strategy for treatment of breast Cancer, with a particular effectiveness in luminal and HER2-enriched tumor subtypes.

Keywords

AURKA; Aurora A; Breast cancer; PAK1; Targeted therapy; p21-Activated kinase 1.

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