The expression of NF-kappa B family protein and its relationship with drug resistance in breast cancer cell lines

Objective: To study the expression of NFκB family protein in breast cancer cell lines and the relationship between NFκB family protein and the drug resistance.Methods: Expression of P65, IκB-α in 14 breast cancer cell lines and P50 in 11 breast cancer cell lines was detected by Western blot. The sensitivity of the cells to ADM was determined by MTT.Results: 1κB-α located mainly in the cytoplasm. P65 and P50 were in both of cytoplasm and nucleus. The expression level of P50 was higher than that of P65, especially in nucleus. MTT assay showed that IC50 was three-fold higher in the cell lines which expressed P50 in nucleus than those P50 negative in nucleus, but no difference was found in the expression of P65.Conclusion: The expression of P50 in nucleus may predict the chemotherapy resistance in breast cancer, so it can be used as an indicator to predict the prognosis. The expression of P50 is more often in breast cancer, and it may play a more important role in the chemotherapy resistance than other NFκB family members.