MK615 inhibits pancreatic cancer cell growth by dual inhibition of Aurora A and B kinases

Figure 1 Growth inhibition of pancreatic cancer cells by MK615. MK615 significantly inhibited the growth of PANC1, PK1, and PK45H cells in a dose-dependent manner (^aP < 0.05). Cells were cultured for 48 h. The assay was carried out in triplicate.

Figure 2 Lysis of pancreatic cells by MK615. MK615 lysed PANC1, PK1, and PK45H cells at concentrations of 150, 300, and 600 &mgr;g/mL. The percentage cytotoxicities at 150, 300, and 600 &mgr;g/mL MK615 were significantly higher than those at 0 &mgr;g/mL MK615 (^aP < 0.05). Cells were cultured for 48 h. The assay was carried out in triplicate.

Figure 3 Dual inhibition of mRNA expression of Aurora A and Aurora B kinases by MK615. MK615 significantly inhibited the transcription of Aurora A and Aurora B mRNA. The percentage inhibition in PANC1, PK1, and PK45H cells was statistically significant (^aP < 0.05). RNA was extracted from the cells cultured with MK615 at a concentration of 300 &mgr;g/mL for 48 h.

Figure 4 Inhibition of protein expression of Aurora A and Aurora B kinases, and NF-κB by MK615. MK615 dually inhibited the expression of Aurora A and Aurora B kinases in PANC1 and PK45H cells. However, no inhibition was evident in PK1 cells. NF-κB inhibition was more evident when anti-phosphorylated NF-κB antibody was used. Protein was extracted from the cells cultured with MK615 at a concentration of 300 &mgr;g/mL for 48 h.