Alisertib (MLN8237)

Alisertib (MLN8237) shows >200-fold higher selectivity for Aurora A than the structurally related Aurora B with an IC50 of 396.5 nM, and does not have any significant activity against 205 other kinases. ^[1] Treatment with this compound (0.5 μM) inhibits the phosphorylation of Aurora A in MM1.S and OPM1 cells, without affecting the Aurora B mediated histone H3 phosphorylation. It significantly inhibits cell proliferation in multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines with IC50 values of 0.003-1.71 μM. MLN8237 displays more potent anti-proliferation activity against primary MM cells and MM cell lines in the presence of BM stroma cells, as well as IL-6 and IGF-1 than against MM cells alone. This compound (0.5 μM) induces 2- to 6-fold increase in G2/M phase in primary MM cells and cell lines, as well as significant apoptosis and senescence, involving the up-regulation of p53, p21 and p27, as well as PARP, caspase 3, and caspase 9 cleavage. In addition, it shows strong synergistic anti-MM effect with Hexadecadrol, as well as additive effect with doxorubicin and LDP-341. ^[2] Treatment with MLN8237 (0.5 μM) causes the inhibition of colony formation of FLO-1, OE19, and OE33 esophageal adenocarinoma cell lines, and induces a significant increase in the percentage of polyploid cells, and subsequently an increase in the percentage of cells in the sub-G1 phase, which can be further enhanced in combination with NSC 119875(2.5 μM), involving the higher induction of TAp73β, PUMA, NOXA, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved PARP as compared with a single-agent treatment. ^[3]

Alisertib (MLN8237) significantly reduces the tumor burden with tumor growth inhibition (TGI) of 42% and 80% at 15 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg, respectively, and prolongs the survival of mice compared with the control. ^[2]

Cells are exposed to various concentrations of Alisertib (MLN8237) for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Cell viability is measured using MTT assay, and cell proliferation is measured using ³[H]-thymidine incorporation. For cell cycle analysis, cells are permeabilized by 70% ethanol at -20 °C, and incubated with 50 μg/mL PI and 20 units/mL RNase-A. DNA content is analyzed by flow cytometry using BDFACS-Canto II and FlowJo software. For the detection of apoptosis and senescence, cells are stained with Resorcinolphthalein isothiocyanate-annexin V and PI. Apoptotic cells are determined by flow cytometric analysis using BDFACS-Canto II and FlowJo software.

• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22016509/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20382844/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22302096/