SMARCA4-inactivating mutations increase sensitivity to Aurora kinase A inhibitor VX-680 in non-small cell lung cancers

Vural Tagal, Shuguang Wei, Wei Zhang, Rolf A. Brekken, Bruce A. Posner, Michael Peyton, Luc Girard, Taehyun Hwang, David A. Wheeler, John D. Minna, Michael A. White, Adi F. Gazdar, Michael G. Roth

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

77 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mutations in the SMARCA4/BRG1 gene resulting in complete loss of its protein (BRG1) occur frequently in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Currently, no single therapeutic agent has been identified as synthetically lethal with SMARCA4/BRG1 loss. We identify AURKA activity as essential in NSCLC cells lacking SMARCA4/BRG1. In these cells, RNAi-mediated depletion or chemical inhibition of AURKA induces apoptosis and cell death in vitro and in xenograft mouse models. Disc large homologue-Associated protein 5 (HURP/DLGAP5), required for AURKA-Dependent, centrosome-Independent mitotic spindle assembly is essential for the survival and proliferation of SMARCA4/BRG1 mutant but not of SMARCA4/BRG1 wild-Type cells. AURKA inhibitors may provide a therapeutic strategy for biomarker-Driven clinical studies to treat the NSCLCs harbouring SMARCA4/BRG1-Inactivating mutations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number14098
JournalNature communications
Volume8
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 19 2017

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Physics and Astronomy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'SMARCA4-inactivating mutations increase sensitivity to Aurora kinase A inhibitor VX-680 in non-small cell lung cancers'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this