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Aurora-A and hBora Join the Game of Polo

Department of Medical Oncology and Cancer Genomics Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Requests for reprints: René H. Medema, University Medical Center Utrecht, Stratenum 2.118, Universiteitsweg 100, Utrecht, 2584 CG, The Netherlands. Phone: 31-88-7568066; Fax: 31-88-7568479; E-mail: r.h.medema{at}umcutrecht.nl.

Overactivation of both Polo-like kinase-1 (Plk1) and Aurora-A is linked to cancer development, and small-molecule inhibitors that target these kinases are currently tested as anticancer drugs. Here, we discuss recent advances in the understanding of the functional crosstalk between Plk1 and Aurora-A before and during mitosis. Several recent findings have led to a better appreciation of how the activities of these distinct mitotic kinases are intertwined. Such insight is important for the expected utility of small-molecule inhibitors targeting Plk1 or Aurora-A, and it might help us to improve their application. [Cancer Res 2009;69(11):4555–8]