title: c-Rel and its many roles in cancer: an old story with new twists.
abstract: When the genes encoding NF-κB subunits were first isolated, their homology to the previously identified c-Rel proto-oncogene and its viral homologue v-Rel was clear. This provided the first indication that these transcription factors also had a role in cancer. Because of its homology to v-Rel, which transforms chicken B cells together with the important role c-Rel can have as a regulator of B- and T-cell proliferation, most attention has focussed on its role in B-cell lymphomas, where the REL gene is frequently amplified. However, a growing number of reports now indicate that c-Rel has important functions in many solid tumours, although studies in mice suggest it may not always function as an oncogene. Moreover, c-Rel is a critical regulator of fibrosis, which provides an environment for tumour development in many settings. Overall, c-Rel is emerging as a complex regulator of tumorigenesis, and there is still much to learn about its functions in human malignancies and the response to cancer therapies.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
authors.forename: Jill E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leslie
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
authors.forename: Neil D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Perkins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005355:Fibrosis; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000502:physiology; D020573:Genes, rel / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000209:etiology; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D020569:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D020569:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel