Inflammation meets cancer, with NF-κB as the matchmaker

Y Ben-Neriah, M Karin - Nature immunology, 2011 - nature.com
Nature immunology, 2011nature.com
Inflammation is a fundamental protective response that sometimes goes awry and becomes
a major cofactor in the pathogenesis of many chronic human diseases, including cancer.
Here we review the evolutionary relationship and opposing functions of the transcription
factor NF-κB in inflammation and cancer. Although it seems to fulfill a distinctly tumor-
promoting role in many types of cancer, NF-κB has a confounding role in certain tumors.
Understanding the activity and function of NF-κB in the context of tumorigenesis is critical for …
Abstract
Inflammation is a fundamental protective response that sometimes goes awry and becomes a major cofactor in the pathogenesis of many chronic human diseases, including cancer. Here we review the evolutionary relationship and opposing functions of the transcription factor NF-κB in inflammation and cancer. Although it seems to fulfill a distinctly tumor-promoting role in many types of cancer, NF-κB has a confounding role in certain tumors. Understanding the activity and function of NF-κB in the context of tumorigenesis is critical for its successful taming, an important challenge for modern cancer biology.
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