The NFκB pathway: a therapeutic target in glioblastoma

Cancer initiating cells have been described to be the only cell population with tumorigenic capacity in glioblastoma multiforme, one of the most aggressive and untreatable cancers. Recent work from our group described that NF kappa B pathway was activated in glioblastoma initiating cells undergoing differentiation, and that blockade of this activation promoted senescence of differentiating cells. NF kappa B activation in cancer may be the result of either exposure to proinflammatory stimuli in the tumor microenvironment or upregulation of the signaling pathway by upstream regulators. Appropriate control of NF kappa B activity, which can be achieved by gene modification or pharmacological strategies, would provide a potential approach for the management of NF kappa B related tumors, including glioblastoma. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of the relevance of NF kappa B in cancer and its possible role as a target of therapeutic intervention.