THE NF-KAPPA-B TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR - ROL E IN ONCOGENESIS AND IN RESPONSE TO ANTICANCER THERAPEUTICS

The NF-kappa B transcription factor is a central mediator of immune re sponse and inflammation. Several lines of evidence also support a role for NF-kappa B in oncogenesis and cancer progression. However, with t he exception of the oncoprotein v-Rel, a direct oncogenicity by Rel/NF -kappa B proteins has not yet been demonstrated. It is conceivable tha t, according to the cellular context and the stage of cancer, an activ ation or an inhibition of cellular NF-kappa B activity might participa te in tumor progression. On another hand, NF-kB is clearly involved in the control of apoptosis and cellular response to DNA damage followin g treatment with cytotoxic anticancer treatments. NF-kappa B inhibits apoptosis after cellular treatment with TNF-alpha or DNA-damaging agen ts. Therefore, the development of drugs that inhibit NF-kappa B should allow a significant increase of cytotoxicity induced by anticancer ch emotherapy.