The BCR-ABL/NF-κB signal transduction network: a long lasting relationship in Philadelphia positive Leukemias

The Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) family of transcription factors plays a key role in cancer pathogenesis due to the ability to promote cellular proliferation and survival, to induce resistance to chemotherapy and to mediate invasion and metastasis. NF-kappa B is recruited through different mechanisms involving either canonical (RelA/p50) or non-canonical pathways (RelB/p50 or RelB/p52), which transduce the signals originated from growth-factors, cytokines, oncogenic stress and DNA damage, bacterial and viral products or other stimuli. The pharmacological inhibition of the NF-kappa B pathway has clearly been associated with significant clinical activity in different cancers. Almost 20 years ago, NF-kappa B was described as an essential modulator of BCR-ABL signaling in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and Philadelphia-positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. This review summarizes the role of NF-kappa B in BCR-ABL-mediated leukemogenesis and provides new insights on the long lasting BCR-ABL/NF-kappa B connection.