Dissociated invasively growing cancer cells with NF-kappaB/p65 positivity after radiotherapy: a new marker for worse clinical outcome in rectal cancer? Preliminary data.

Objectives Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), especially p65 subunit, seems to be associated with origin and progression of cancer. The aim of the study was to determine expression of NF-kappaB/p65 in rectal cancer patients before and after radiotherapy as well as to assess the relationship between NF-kappaB/p65 expression, other tumor characteristics, and disease progression. Further aim was to evaluate whether expression of NF-kappaB/p65 in tumor tissue may serve as a predictive marker of patient outcome.