PLK1 inhibition impairs erythroid differentiation.

Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1), a key regulator of the G2/M phase in mitosis, is frequently overexpressed in numerous tumors. Although PLK1 inhibitors have emerged as promising therapeutic agents for cancer, their use has been linked to significant anemia in a subset of patients, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we utilized an human umbilical cord blood-derived CD34 cell-based erythroid differentiation system, alongside a murine model, to investigate the impact of PLK1 inhibitors on erythropoiesis.