Compounds of formula (I), are aurora kinase inhibitors: wherein X is &mdash；N&mdash；, &mdash；CH2-N&mdash；, &mdash；CH2-CH&mdash；, or &mdash；CH&mdash；； R1 is a radical of formula (IA) wherein Z is &mdash；CH2-, &mdash；NH&mdash；, -0-, &mdash；S(O)&mdash；&mdash；S&mdash；, &mdash；S(O)2 or a divalent monocyclic carbocyclic or heterocyclic radical having 3-7 ring atoms； Alk is an optionally substituted divalent C1-C6 alkylene radical； A is hydrogen or an optionally substituted monocyclic carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring having 5-7 ring atoms； r, s and t are independently 0 or 1, provided that when A is hydrogen then at least one of r and s is 1； R2 is halogen, &mdash；CN, &mdash；CF3, &mdash；OCH3, or cyclopropyl； and R3 is a radical of formula (IB) wherein Q is hydrogen or an optionally substituted phenyl or monocyclic heterocyclic ring with 5 or 6 ring atoms； Z&It；1>； is &mdash；S&mdash；, &mdash；S(O)&mdash；, &mdash；S(O)2-, &mdash；O&mdash；, &mdash；SO2NH&mdash；, &mdash；NHSO2-, NHC(&boxH；O)NH, &mdash；NH(C&boxH；S)NH&mdash；, Or &mdash；N(R4)&mdash； wherein R4 is hydrogen, C1-C3 alkyl, cycloalkyl, or benzyl； and Alk&It；1>； and Alk&It；2>； are, independently, optionally substituted divalent C1-C3 alkylene radicals； and m, n and p are independently 0 or 1.
