Both AP-1 and NF-kappaB seem to be involved in tumour growth in an experimental rat hepatoma.

Daily treatment of rats bearing Yoshida AH-130 ascites hepatoma with the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kappaB) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) double inhibitors SP100030 and SP100207 at a dose of 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg of body weight, respectively, resulted in a clear inhibition of tumour growth. The decrease was not related to an altered cell cycle distribution of the tumour cell population suggesting a merely necrotic effect. The results presented confirm that both transcription factors are involved in the growth of the experimental tumour system used, suggesting that both signaling cascades play a very important role in the signaling of tumour cell proliferation. This could, in future, allow for the development of new therapeutic strategies for cancer patients.