Abstract

NF-κB is an inducible transcription factor that is controlled by the signal activation cascades. NF-κB controls a number of genes involved in immuno-inflammatory responses, cell cycle progression, inhibition of apoptosis and cell adhesion, thus promoting carcinogenesis and cancer progression. Interestingly, some proteins encoded by oncogenes and oncogenic viruses have been shown to be involved in NF-κB activation pathway. In fact, NF-κB is constitutively activated in some cancer and leukemia cells. These findings have substantiated the old concept of the link between chronic inflammation and carcinogenesis. In this review, we have attempted to overview the possible involvement of NF-κB in cancer and discuss the feasibility of anti-cancer strategy with NF-κB and its signaling cascade as novel molecular targets.

Keywords: NF-κB, signal transduction, IKK, cancer, leukemia, transcription, apoptosis