Double trouble: cytosolic and nuclear IKKα in cancer

IκB kinase alpha (IKKα) is a serine/threonine kinase originally known for its role in nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signalling, which integrates inflammatory processes and cancer. IKKα can function within the IKK complex in canonical NF-κB signalling, alongsi...

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Main Authors: Kirsty Tinto, Margaret Cunningham, Robin Plevin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Royal Society 2025-08-01
Series:Open Biology
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Online Access:https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsob.240375
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author Kirsty Tinto
Margaret Cunningham
Robin Plevin
author_facet Kirsty Tinto
Margaret Cunningham
Robin Plevin
author_sort Kirsty Tinto
collection DOAJ
description IκB kinase alpha (IKKα) is a serine/threonine kinase originally known for its role in nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signalling, which integrates inflammatory processes and cancer. IKKα can function within the IKK complex in canonical NF-κB signalling, alongside its homologous family member, IKKβ, and regulatory subunit IKKγ (NEMO). However, a key role for IKKα is its ability to promote non-canonical NF-κB signalling. Additionally, the dynamic ability of IKKα to shuttle between the cytosol and nucleus, mediates NF-κB-independent effects which further its role in inflammation and tumour progression. More recently, an endosomal-generated, nuclear-active IKKα isoform, p45-IKKα has been discovered and implicated in cancer and chemoresistance. This review focuses on current knowledge of the complex and intricate roles of nuclear and cytosolic IKKα in promoting tumour progression. By highlighting the molecular roles of IKKα in several cancer subtypes, and its integral roles in many of the hallmarks of cancer throughout this review, we highlight the therapeutic potential of IKKα as a future anti-cancer drug target.
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spelling doaj-art-2fae6fb5eccb48ac99bbbf92db385e092025-08-20T03:39:32ZengThe Royal SocietyOpen Biology2046-24412025-08-0115810.1098/rsob.240375Double trouble: cytosolic and nuclear IKKα in cancerKirsty Tinto0Margaret Cunningham1Robin Plevin2Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UKStrathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UKStrathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UKIκB kinase alpha (IKKα) is a serine/threonine kinase originally known for its role in nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signalling, which integrates inflammatory processes and cancer. IKKα can function within the IKK complex in canonical NF-κB signalling, alongside its homologous family member, IKKβ, and regulatory subunit IKKγ (NEMO). However, a key role for IKKα is its ability to promote non-canonical NF-κB signalling. Additionally, the dynamic ability of IKKα to shuttle between the cytosol and nucleus, mediates NF-κB-independent effects which further its role in inflammation and tumour progression. More recently, an endosomal-generated, nuclear-active IKKα isoform, p45-IKKα has been discovered and implicated in cancer and chemoresistance. This review focuses on current knowledge of the complex and intricate roles of nuclear and cytosolic IKKα in promoting tumour progression. By highlighting the molecular roles of IKKα in several cancer subtypes, and its integral roles in many of the hallmarks of cancer throughout this review, we highlight the therapeutic potential of IKKα as a future anti-cancer drug target.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsob.240375cytosolicnuclearIKKαcancerNF-κB
spellingShingle Kirsty Tinto
Margaret Cunningham
Robin Plevin
Double trouble: cytosolic and nuclear IKKα in cancer
Open Biology
cytosolic
nuclear
IKKα
cancer
NF-κB
title Double trouble: cytosolic and nuclear IKKα in cancer
title_full Double trouble: cytosolic and nuclear IKKα in cancer
title_fullStr Double trouble: cytosolic and nuclear IKKα in cancer
title_full_unstemmed Double trouble: cytosolic and nuclear IKKα in cancer
title_short Double trouble: cytosolic and nuclear IKKα in cancer
title_sort double trouble cytosolic and nuclear ikkα in cancer
topic cytosolic
nuclear
IKKα
cancer
NF-κB
url https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsob.240375
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AT margaretcunningham doubletroublecytosolicandnuclearikkaincancer
AT robinplevin doubletroublecytosolicandnuclearikkaincancer