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AURKB (Aurora kinase B) is a serine/threonine kinase and core
component of the chromosomal passenger complex, together with INCENP, survivin
(BIRC5) and borealin (CDCA8). AURKB regulates chromosome condensation and
segregation, correction of kinetochore–microtubule attachment errors, the spindle
assembly checkpoint and cytokinesis. AURKB is frequently overexpressed or
hyperactive in cancer and can promote chromosomal instability, aneuploidy,
rapid proliferation, tumour progression and treatment resistance. Experimental
AURKB inhibition causes defective chromosome segregation and cytokinesis,
polyploidy, mitotic catastrophe, cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis or senescence.
The typical cancer-associated direction is therefore up, while
the desired anticancer modulation is generally down or kinase
inhibition. AURKB is separate from AURKA and AURKC because the three
Aurora kinases have distinct cellular functions and cancer associations.
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