Dimethyl fumarate restores apoptosis sensitivity and inhibits tumor growth and metastasis in CTCL by targeting NF-κB

Targeting IKK and NF-κB for Therapy

In addition to regulating immune responses, the NF-κB family of transcription factors also promotes cellular proliferation and survival. NF-κB and its activating kinase, IKK, have become appealing therapeutic targets because of their critical roles in the progression of many diseases including chronic inflammation and cancer. Here, we discuss the conditions that lead to pathway activation, the effects of constitutive activation, and some of the strategies used to inhibit NF-κB signaling.

Fumarates and Cancer

Accumulation of intermediate metabolites of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle in tumor cells can cause epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), although the exact mechanisms remain elusive. Recent studies show that the oncometabolite fumarate, which accumulates in fumarate hydratase-deficient renal cancers, confers tumor aggressiveness by causing epigenetic changes in the antimetastatic miRNA cluster mir-200ba429. This may have important implications for the use of fumarates in the clinic.