Definition

An orally bioavailable small molecule multi-kinase inhibitor with antineoplastic activity. Aurora kinase/VEGFR 2 inhibitor CYC116 inhibits Aurora kinases A and B and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), resulting in disruption of the cell cycle, rapid cell death, and the inhibition of angiogenesis. Aurora kinases are serine/threonine protein kinases that are only expressed in actively dividing cells and are critical in division or mitosis. VEGFR2 is a receptor tyrosine kinase that appears to account for most of the mitogenic and chemotactic effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on adult endothelial cells.