Nuclear factor-kappa B as a predictor of treatment response in breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the links of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) to treatment-induced signaling in breast cancer and to propose further studies to elucidate the role of NF-kappa B in breast cancer response to chemotherapy and radiation.


RESULTS
The authors' group and others have investigated the clinical relevance of ubiquitously expressed NF-kappa B in breast cancer. Possibly through its effects on apoptosis, NF-kappa B has been implicated in tumor resistance to chemotherapy and radiation in many types of tumors. Furthermore, both in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that targeted inhibition of NF-kappa B can sensitize tumor cells to chemotherapy and radiation.


CONCLUSIONS
The molecular mechanisms involved in chemotherapy-induced and radiation-induced cell death in breast cancer are not fully known, nor are the mechanisms of treatment resistance. NF-kappa B is a transcription factor for a number of genes involved in tumor progression and resistance to systemic therapies and is a major regulator of the apoptotic pathway. Gaining further insights into molecular factors such as NF-kappa B as biomarkers for treatment response may help clinicians predict treatment outcome and lead to the development of targeted therapeutics.
Garg
Amit K
AK
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, 77030, USA.
Hortobagyi
Gabriel N
GN
Aggarwal
Bharat B
BB
Sahin
Aysegul A
AA
Buchholz
Thomas A
TA
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011878:Radiotherapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016328:NF-kappa B