Differential ABC transporter expression during hematopoiesis contributes to neutrophil-biased toxicity of Aurora kinase inhibitors.

Drug-induced cytopenias are a prevalent and significant issue that worsens clinical outcomes and hinders the effective treatment of cancer. While reductions in blood cell numbers are classically associated with traditional cytotoxic chemotherapies, they also occur with newer targeted small molecules and the factors that determine the hematotoxicity profiles of oncologic drugs are not fully understood. Here, we explore why some Aurora kinase inhibitors cause preferential neutropenia.