Increased AURKA promotes cell proliferation and predicts poor prognosis in bladder cancer

BMC Syst Biol. 2018 Dec 14;12(Suppl 7):118. doi: 10.1186/s12918-018-0634-2.

Abstract

Background: Bladder cancer (BC) is the most common cancer of the urinary bladder and upper tract, in which the clinical management is limited. AURKA (aurora kinase A) has been identified as an oncogene in cancer development; however, its potential role and underlying mechanisms in the progression of BC remain unknown.

Results: In this study, we evaluated Aurora kinase A (AURKA) expression in patient samples by performing gene expression profiling, and found that AURKA expression levels were significantly higher in BC tissues than in normal tissues. Increased AURKA in BC was strongly associated with stage and grade. Moreover, BC patients with elevated AURKA achieved poor overall survival rates. The experiments in vitro comprehensively validated the critical role of AURKA in promoting BC cell proliferation using the methods of gene overexpression and gene silencing. Furthermore, we proved that AURKA inhibitor MLN8237 arrested BC cell growth and induced apoptosis.

Conclusions: These findings implicate AURKA acting as an effective biomarker for BC detection and prognosis, as well as therapeutic target.

Keywords: Apoptosis; Aurora kinase a (AURKA); Bladder cancer; Oncogene.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aurora Kinase A / genetics
  • Aurora Kinase A / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / genetics
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / pathology*

Substances

  • Aurora Kinase A