AURKB

Overview

AURKB (Aurora Kinase B) encodes a serine/threonine kinase that is a key regulator of chromosome segregation and cytokinesis during mitosis. It is a component of the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) and is required for proper kinetochore-microtubule attachment and spindle assembly checkpoint activation. AURKB overexpression is frequently observed in multiple cancer types and is associated with chromosomal instability.

Alterations observed in the corpus

  • Upregulated in the basal-like IntClust 10 subgroup as part of a chromosome 5q deletion-associated trans-acting mitotic network in the METABRIC breast cancer cohort (2,000 tumors) PMID:22522925
  • Elevated mitotic-pathway expression implicates AURKB in GS and CIN gastric tumours; nominated as a candidate therapeutic target based on expression profiling PMID:25079317

Cancer types (linked)

  • BRCA (breast cancer): Transcriptional upregulation observed in basal-like IntClust 10, a high-risk subgroup characterized by extensive chromosomal instability PMID:22522925

Co-occurrence and mutual exclusivity

  • Co-upregulated with BUB1, CHEK1, FOXM1, and TTK in the basal-like IntClust 10 subgroup, forming a mitotic network associated with 5q deletions PMID:22522925

Therapeutic relevance

  • Aurora kinase inhibitors (e.g., barasertib/AZD1152) are in clinical development; the METABRIC finding of AURKB upregulation in basal-like tumors provides genomic context for testing such agents in this subgroup.

Open questions

  • Whether AURKB upregulation in IntClust 10 is a driver event or a secondary consequence of chromosomal instability remains to be determined.

Sources

This page was processed by entity-page-writer on 2026-05-06. - PMID:25079317

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