AURKA

AURKA Full Name

aurora kinase A

AURKA Introduction

AURKA (aurora kinase A) is a serine/threonine protein kinase that plays a central role in regulating mitotic entry, centrosome maturation, spindle assembly, and chromosome segregation. Encoded by the AURKA gene located on chromosome 20q13, AURKA activity is tightly controlled through interactions with regulatory proteins such as TPX2 and Bora, which ensure its precise activation during cell division. Under normal physiological conditions, AURKA coordinates accurate progression through the G2/M phase of the cell cycle by controlling centrosomal function and microtubule dynamics. However, abnormal AURKA amplification, overexpression, or dysregulated activation can disrupt mitotic fidelity, promote chromosomal instability, and create a cellular environment favorable for malignant transformation. Understanding AURKA regulation has become increasingly important because uncontrolled cell proliferation and genomic instability are common challenges in cancer biology and precision medicine.

Beyond its classical cytoplasmic role in mitosis, AURKA also functions as a critical signaling regulator within the nucleus, where it interacts with transcription factors and oncogenic pathways involved in tumor progression. Studies have shown that nuclear AURKA can cooperate with factors such as FoxM1, c-Myc, NF-κB, N-Myc, and Wnt signaling components to enhance cancer-associated gene expression, support cancer stem cell maintenance, and promote tumor cell survival, invasion, and therapeutic resistance. Unlike conventional kinase-dependent mechanisms, some oncogenic activities of AURKA are mediated through protein–protein interactions and structural functions, which may explain why certain tumors develop resistance to ATP-competitive AURKA inhibitors. These findings have expanded the understanding of AURKA biology and encouraged the development of alternative targeting strategies, including allosteric inhibitors, disruption of regulatory interactions, and approaches targeting AURKA-dependent synthetic lethal vulnerabilities.

AURKA has emerged as a promising therapeutic target across multiple cancer types, including breast cancer, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, and neuroblastoma, where elevated AURKA expression is frequently associated with aggressive disease characteristics and poor clinical outcomes. Its essential role in tumor cell proliferation and survival makes AURKA an attractive candidate for precision oncology, particularly in cancers that exhibit strong dependence on mitotic regulation or oncogenic amplification pathways. In addition, emerging research on AURKA post-translational regulation, including cysteine oxidative modification and non-canonical regulatory mechanisms, provides new opportunities for designing next-generation inhibitors with improved selectivity and reduced resistance. Continued investigation of AURKA signaling networks may help overcome current limitations in cancer therapy and enable more effective targeted treatment strategies.

Alternate Names for AURKA

AURKA; aurora kinase A; AIK; ARK1; AURA; BTAK; STK6; STK7; STK15; AURORA2

• 1.Chen M, et al.; Research progress on the relationship between AURKA and tumorigenesis: the neglected nuclear function of AURKA. Ann Med. 2024, 56(1):2282184.
  2.Du R, et al.; Targeting AURKA in Cancer: molecular mechanisms and opportunities for Cancer therapy. Mol Cancer. 2021, 20(1):15.