The transcription factor NF-kappa B: control of oncogenesis and cancer therapy resistance

Discovered in 1986 as a DNA binding activity that recognized the immunoglob ulin light chain intronic enhancer, NF-kappa B has been studied intensively for its role in controlling expression of genes involved in immune and inf lammatory function [1,2]. However, more recently, NF-kappa B has been impli cated in controlling cell growth and oncogenesis. The link between NF-kappa B and cancer stems, in part, from the fact that this transcription factor is capable of inducing gene products that control proliferative responses a nd that suppress apoptotic cascades, such as those induced by tumor necrosi s factor (TNF), expression of oncoproteins, and genotoxic stress. This latt er observation is likely to be important in developing new approaches aimed at improving the efficacy of cancer chemotherapy. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scienc e B.V. All rights reserved.