Definition

An orally available inhibitor of FMS-related tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3, STK1, or FLK2), the tyrosine kinase ABL, and aurora kinases, with potential antineoplastic activity. Upon administration, FLT3/ABL/Aurora kinase inhibitor KW-2449 specifically binds to and inhibits both wild-type and mutated forms of FLT3, ABL and aurora kinases, which both interferes with the activation of signal transduction pathways mediated by these kinases and reduces the proliferation of susceptible cancer cells. FLT3 and ABL kinases are upregulated in certain tumor cells and play important roles in tumor cell proliferation and metastasis. Aurora kinases, serine-threonine kinases overexpressed by a wide variety of cancer cell types, play essential roles in mitotic checkpoint control.