TNF- and cancer therapy-induced apoptosis: potentiation by inhibition of NF-kappaB

Science. 1996 Nov 1;274(5288):784-7. doi: 10.1126/science.274.5288.784.

Abstract

Many cells are resistant to stimuli that can induce apoptosis, but the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. The activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) by tumor necrosis factor (TNF), ionizing radiation, or daunorubicin (a cancer chemotherapeutic compound), was found to protect from cell killing. Inhibition of NF-kappaB nuclear translocation enhanced apoptotic killing by these reagents but not by apoptotic stimuli that do not activate NF-kappaB. These results provide a mechanism of cellular resistance to killing by some apoptotic reagents, offer insight into a new role for NF-kappaB, and have potential for improvement of the efficacy of cancer therapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Apoptosis* / drug effects
  • Apoptosis* / radiation effects
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cycloheximide / pharmacology
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Daunorubicin / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • I-kappa B Proteins*
  • Interleukin-1 / pharmacology
  • Leupeptins / pharmacology
  • NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha
  • NF-kappa B / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B / physiology*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Radiation, Ionizing*
  • Staurosporine / pharmacology
  • Transcription Factor RelA
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • I-kappa B Proteins
  • Interleukin-1
  • Leupeptins
  • NF-kappa B
  • NFKBIA protein, human
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors
  • Transcription Factor RelA
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha
  • Cycloheximide
  • Staurosporine
  • benzyloxycarbonylleucyl-leucyl-leucine aldehyde
  • Daunorubicin