Effect of NF-kappaB activation in bone marrow stromal cells co-cultured with CLL cells

Tumor cell survival critically depends on heterotypic communication with benign cells in the microenvironment. Here we describe a novel survival signaling pathway activated in stromal cells by contact to B-cells from chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. The expression of PKC-II and the subsequent activation of NF-B in bone marrow stromal cells is a prerequisite to support the survival of malignant B-cells. PKC- knockout mice are insusceptible to CLL-transplantations, underscoring the in vivo significance of the PKC-II- NF-B signaling pathway in the tumor microenvironment. Upregulated stromal PKC-II in biopsies from CLL, breast- and pancreatic- cancer patients suggest that this pathway may commonly be activated in a variety of malignancies.

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Lutzny G, Kocher T, Schmidt-Supprian M, Rudelius M, Klein-Hitpass L, Finch AJ, Dürig J, Wagner M, Haferlach C, Kohlmann A, Schnittger S, Seifert M, Wanninger S, Zaborsky N, Oostendorp R, Ruland J, Leitges M, Kuhnt T, Schäfer Y, Lampl B, Peschel C, Egle A, Ringshausen I