Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) are a diverse group of rare non-Hodgkin 
lymphomas (NHL) that carry a poor prognosis and are in need of effective 
therapies. Alisertib (MLN8237) an investigational agent that inhibits Aurora A 
Ser/Thr kinase has shown activity in PTCL patients. Here we demonstrate that 
aurora A and B are highly expressed in T-cell lymphoma cell lines. In PTCL 
patient samples aurora A was positive in 3 of 24 samples and co-expressed with 
aurora B. Aurora B was positive in tumor cells in 22 of 32 samples. Of the 
subtypes of PTCL, aurora B was over-expressed in PTCL (NOS) [73%], T-NHL [100%], 
ALCL (Alk-Neg) [100%] and AITL [100%]. Treatment with MLN8237 inhibited PTCL 
cell proliferation in CRL-2396 and TIB-48 cells with an IC50 of 80-100nM. 
MLN8237 induced endo-reduplication in a dose and time dependent manner in PTCL 
cell lines leading to apoptosis demonstrated by flow cytometry and PARP-cleavage 
at concentrations achieved in early phase clinical trials. Moreover, inhibition 
of HisH3 and aurora A phosphorylation was dose dependent and strongly correlated 
with endo-reduplication. The data provide a sound rationale for aurora 
inhibition in PTCL as a therapeutic modality and warrants clinical trial 
evaluation.