Targeting the NF-κB Pathway in Prostate Cancer: A Promising Therapeutic Approach?

Rel/NF-kappa B transcription factors are key regulators of genes implicated in inflammatory and immune activation, cell growth and protection from apoptosis. Constitutive activation of NF-kappa B has been observed in several types of cancers. Recently, it has been shown that inflammation and cancer are molecularly linked by means of NF-kappa B. During prostate cancer progression, NF-kappa B promotes cell survival, tumor invasion, metastasis and chemoresistance. NF-kappa B 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-kappa B pathway may reduce the oncogenic effects mediated by chronic inflammatory response. Therefore, NF-kappa B 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-kappa B signaling pathway in prostate tumorigenesis is discussed, taking into consideration the potentiality and effectiveness of NF-kappa B inhibitors as therapeutic agents for prostate cancer.