Affiliations: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of
Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea | Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul
National University, Seoul, Korea
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Yong-Sang Song, Department of
Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, 28
Yeongeon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Korea. Tel.: +82 2 2072 2822; Fax:
+82 2 762 3599; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), a transcription factor, plays an important role in carcinogenesis
as well as in the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses.
NF-κB induces the expression of diverse target genes
that promote cell proliferation, regulate apoptosis, facilitate angiogenesis
and stimulate invasion and metastasis. Furthermore, many cancer cells show
aberrant or constitutive NF-κB activation which
mediates resistance to chemo- and radio-therapy. Therefore, the inhibition of
NF-κB activation and its signaling pathway offers a
potential cancer therapy strategy. In addition, recent studies have shown that
NF-κB can also play a tumor suppressor role in certain
settings. In this review, we focus on the role of NF-κB in carcinogenesis and the therapeutic potential of targeting
NF-κB in cancer therapy.
Keywords: NF-κB, NF-κB inhibitor, carcinogenesis, cancer therapy
Journal: BioFactors, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 19-35, 2007
