AURKB

AURKB Full Name

aurora kinase B

AURKB Introduction

AURKB (Aurora kinase B) is a serine/threonine protein kinase that belongs to the Aurora kinase family, which also includes AURKA and AURKC. As the catalytic core of the chromosome passenger complex (CPC), AURKB plays an essential role in ensuring accurate chromosome segregation, kinetochore–microtubule attachment, histone modification, and cytokinesis during mitosis. Many researchers studying cancer biology focus on AURKB because abnormal cell division is one of the fundamental drivers of tumor development. When AURKB expression or activity becomes dysregulated, cells may accumulate chromosomal instability, abnormal mitotic events, and genomic alterations that support uncontrolled proliferation. Therefore, understanding AURKB function is critical for developing targeted strategies against diseases characterized by excessive cell growth and impaired cell cycle control.

The primary function of AURKB is to coordinate the precise execution of mitosis through phosphorylation of key substrates, including histone H3 and proteins involved in chromosome alignment and cytokinesis. Within the CPC, AURKB acts as a mitotic surveillance kinase that detects improper chromosome attachments and prevents chromosome segregation errors, thereby maintaining genomic integrity. Beyond normal cell division, AURKB is also involved in DNA damage responses, mitotic checkpoint regulation, and apoptosis-related signaling pathways. Emerging evidence suggests that AURKB overactivation allows cancer cells to tolerate replication stress and DNA damage, contributing to tumor progression and resistance to anticancer therapies. These mechanisms make AURKB an attractive therapeutic target, particularly for cancers with high proliferative activity and elevated mitotic dependency.

AURKB dysregulation has been reported in multiple malignancies, including colorectal cancer, renal cell carcinoma, breast cancer, lung cancer, and hematological cancers. Increased AURKB expression is frequently associated with aggressive tumor characteristics, enhanced cancer cell proliferation, metastasis potential, poor prognosis, and reduced treatment sensitivity. Recent studies have shown that inhibiting AURKB can suppress tumor cell growth, induce abnormal mitosis, and enhance the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents such as 5-fluorouracil. In clear cell renal cell carcinoma, AURKB has also been linked to metabolic regulation, including fatty acid metabolism pathways that support cancer cell survival. Due to its central role in mitosis and cancer progression, AURKB inhibitors are being actively explored as potential anticancer agents, either as monotherapies or in combination with DNA-damaging drugs and targeted therapies.

Alternate Names for AURKB

AURKB; aurora kinase B; AIK2; AIM1; ARK2; AurB; IPL1; STK5; AIM-1; STK12

• 1.Yang Y, et al.; AURKB affects the proliferation of clear cell renal cell carcinoma by regulating fatty acid metabolism. Discov Oncol. 2025, 16(1):91.
  2.Shah ET, et al.; Inhibition of Aurora B kinase (AURKB) enhances the effectiveness of 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy against colorectal cancer cells. Br J Cancer. 2024, 130(7):1196-1205.