Inhibition of Nuclear Factor Kappa B as a Therapeutic Target for Lung Cancer.

Context A wide variety of malignancies common to humans display abnormal constitutive expression of nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κβ). The study of NF-κβ can increase understanding of its role in cancer, especially in lung-tumor formation. Objective This review intended to examine the research on the impact of the NF-κβ signaling pathway on the development of malignancies of the lungs and the advances in the regulation of that pathway to mitigate and provide treatment for lung carcinoma. Design The research team performed a narrative review by searching the PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases. The search used the keywords NF-κB or NF-kappa B or nuclear factor kappa B and non-small-cell lung cancer or non-small-cell lung carcinoma or NSCLC or lung cancer or lung adenocarcinoma or lung squamous carcinoma. Setting This study were conducted at Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Qingxian People's Hospital, Cangzhou City, Hebei Province, People's Republic of China. Results As a major cell survival signal, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) is involved in multiple steps in carcinogenesis and in cancer cell's resistance to chemo- and radio-therapy. Recent studies with animal models and cell culture systems have established the links between NF-kappaB and lung carcinogenesis, highlighting the significance of targeting NF-kappa signaling pathway for lung cancer treatment and chemoprevention. Conclusions While no convincing evidence exists that survival of lung cancer cells is dependent on NF-κβ, inhibition of NF-κβ is a potent supporting therapy for enhancing the therapeutic effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Constitutive and therapeutically induced activation of NF-κβ reduces the tumor-massacre effect of treatment, so inhibiting NF-κβ might increase antitumor activity.