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Nuclear factor-κB and inhibitor of κB kinase pathways in oncogenic initiation and progression

Abstract

Abundant data support a key role for the transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway in controlling the initiation and progression of human cancer. NF-κB and associated regulatory proteins such as IκB kinase (IKK) are activated downstream of many oncoproteins and there is much evidence for the activation of NF-κB-dependent target genes in a variety of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. This review focuses on the mechanisms by which the NF-κB pathway is activated in cancer and on the oncogenic functions controlled by activated NF-κB. Additionally, the effects of NF-κB activation in tumors relative to cancer therapy are also discussed.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful for discussions with members of the Baldwin laboratory and with numerous scientists in the NF-κB and oncology fields. We especially thank Dr Noel Hawke for help with the preparation and design of figures. We regret being unable to reference all of the important published manuscripts on NF-κB and oncogenesis. We acknowledge scientific support from the NIH/NCI, the University of North Carolina Breast and GI SPORE programs, the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Program, and the Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (to ASB). DSB was supported by a fellowship from the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer and a research grant from the Doctors Cancer Foundation.

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Bassères, D., Baldwin, A. Nuclear factor-κB and inhibitor of κB kinase pathways in oncogenic initiation and progression. Oncogene 25, 6817–6830 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1209942

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