NSCLC and the alternative pathway of NF-kappa B: uncovering an unknown relation

作者：Dimitrakopoulos Fotinos Ioannis D; Antonacopoulou Anna G; Kottorou Anastasia; Vlotinou Helen; Panagopoulos Nikolaos D; Dougenis Dimitrios; Scopa Chrisoula; Papadaki Helen; Kalofonos Haralabos P^*

来源：Virchows Archiv, 2012, 460(5): 515-523.

DOI：10.1007/s00428-012-1230-2

• NF-kappa B2
• p52
• RelB
• Lung cancer
• NSCLC

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Although our knowledge on the pathobiology of the disease has increased in the last decades, the prognosis of lung cancer patients has hardly changed. Many signaling pathways are implicated in lung carcinogenesis, but the role of the alternative pathway of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kappa B) in lung cancer pathogenesis and progression has not been investigated. The aim of our study was to investigate the role of this pathway in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. NF-kappa B2 and RelB protein expression was retrospectively assessed by immunohistochemistry in tissue samples from 109 NSCLC patients. RelB and NF-kappa B2 protein levels differed between tumors and adjacent nonneoplastic lung parenchyma. Cytoplasmic immunoreactivity of NF-kappa B2 and RelB was correlated with tumor stage ( = 0.03 and = 0.016, respectively). In addition, cytoplasmic NF-kappa B2 levels were related to tumor grade ( = 0.046). Expression of RelB in the cytoplasm was tumor histologic type-specific, with squamous cell carcinomas having the highest protein levels. Nuclear expression of RelB and NF-kappa B2 differed between tumor and nonneoplastic tissues, possibly indicating activation of the alternative pathway of NF-kappa B in cancer cells. Moreover, lymph node metastasis was related to nuclear NF-kappa B2 expression in tumor cells. The deregulation of the alternative NF-kappa B pathway in NSCLC could play a role in the development and progression of the disease.

• 出版日期2012-5