Targeting the NF-ΚB pathway in prostate cancer: a promising therapeutic approach?

Rel/NF-ΚB transcription factors are key regulators of genes implicated in inflammatory and immune activation, cell growth and protection from apoptosis. Constitutive activation of NF-ΚB has been observed in several types of cancers. Recently, it has been shown that inflammation and cancer are molecularly linked by means of NF-ΚB. During prostate cancer progression, NF-ΚB promotes cell survival, tumor invasion, metastasis and chemoresistance. NF-ΚB constitutive activation has been frequently demonstrated in primary prostate cancers and it correlates with loss of androgen receptor expression and castration-resistant phenotypes. Indeed, inhibition of NF-ΚB pathway may reduce the oncogenic effects mediated by chronic inflammatory response. Therefore, NF-ΚB represents a hopeful target for the treatment of prostate cancer due to its role in oncogenesis and chemoresistance. Here, the current knowledge about the roles of NF-ΚB signaling pathway in prostate tumorigenesis is discussed, taking into consideration the potentiality and effectiveness of NF-ΚB inhibitors as therapeutic agents for prostate cancer.