NF-kappa B: arresting a major culprit in cancer.
Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) has long been known to play a central role in the immune system by regulating the expression of key genes. Moreover, activation of this transcription factor helps a wide variety of cell types survive damage induced by pro-apoptotic stimuli. Because of its crucial role in the regulation of pro-inflammatory genes, NF-kappa B is a promising target for the discovery of anti-inflammatory drugs. More recently, NF-kappa B has also emerged as a major culprit in a variety of human cancers mainly because of its ability to protect transformed cells from apoptosis. The pharmaceutical industry should, therefore, seriously consider testing inhibitors of NF-kappa B, identified as part of their anti-inflammatory drug discovery programs, in combination with other chemotherapeutic drugs in models of cancer.
Haefner
Burkhard
B
Department of Inflammatory Disease, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical R&D, A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium. bhaefner@prdbe.jnj.com
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D009336:Necrosis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016328:NF-kappa B