Inflammatory tales of liver cancer.

Cell culture studies have established NF-kappaB's critical role in cancer cell survival and proliferation and led to the clinical use of NF-kappaB inhibitors. However, a paper in this issue of Cancer Cell reveals an anticancer function for NF-kappaB in a mouse model where NF-kappaB activity is lost specifically in hepatocytes. These studies suggest careful examination of NF-kappaB inhibitors as a therapeutic modality for cancer.