The anti-death machinery in IKK/NF-κB signaling

The most extensively studied function of NF-kappa B is its ability to promote cell survival through induction of target genes, whose products inhibit various aspects of the apoptotic machinery in both normal and malignant cells. Recent studies, however, indicate that NF-kappa B activation can also suppress programmed necrosis through induction of genes encoding anti-oxidant proteins. Since tumor cells often use NF-kappa B pathway as a shield to escape the killing of conventional anti-cancer therapies, intervention of IKK/NF-kappa B signaling would be a promising option to improve the efficacy of cancer treatment.