Surgical forumInhibition of AKT abrogates chemotherapy- induced NF-κB survival mechanisms: implications for therapy in pancreatic cancer1 ☆

Background When activated, the nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway is a potent cellular signal that inhibits apoptotic cell death. Pancreatic cancer is resistant to the apoptotic effect of chemotherapy, though it is unclear whether this is an inherent feature or a survival signal engaged in response to chemotherapy. We investigated whether pancreatic cancer cells activate the NF-κB pathway in response to chemotherapy and whether inhibition of this response altered the apoptotic efficacy of chemotherapy.