[IAPs: a central element in the NF-κB activating signaling pathway]

The function of IAP has long been limited to an inhibition of apoptosis through their capacity to bind some caspases. Since the expression of these proteins is altered in some tumor samples, IAPs are targets for anticancer therapy and many small molecules have been designed for their capacity to inhibit IAP-caspase interaction. Unexpectedly, these molecules appeared to significantly affect NF-κB activation. In this review, we will discuss the central role of cIAP1, cIAP2 and XIAP in the regulation of NF-κB activating signaling pathways.

[CYLD deubiquitinase as a recurrent target in oncogenic processes]

CYLD deubiquitinase has been originally defined as a tumor suppressor based exclusively on genetic findings. Indeed, inactivation of CYLD in humans results in familial cylindromatosis and multiple trichoepithelioma, two pathologies characterized by the development of tumors originating specifically from the skin appendages. A set of recent publications has revealed that recurrent inactivation of CYLD occurs through diverse mechanisms in several forms of cancer, unequivocally confirming its tumor suppressor function. This property is associated with the critical role played by CYLD in negatively regulating several signaling pathway, among them the NF-κB signaling pathway.