Aurora kinases: shining lights on the therapeutic horizon?

The Aurora kinases have been implicated in tumorigenesis and are important regulators of diverse cell cycle events, ranging from the entry into mitosis, centrosome function, mitotic spindle formation, chromosome biorientation and segregation, and cytokinesis. The recent identification of novel binding partners and key downstream effectors, together with new small-molecule inhibitors that display efficacy against tumours, heralds an upsurge of interest in these critical kinases. This review details new developments in the field and analyses the potential of Aurora kinases as anticancer targets.