Over several decades, cell biology research has characterized distinct forms of regulated cell death, identified master regulators such as nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB), and contributed to translating these findings in order to improve anti-cancer therapies. In the era of immunotherapy, however, the field warrants a new appraisal-the targeted induction of immunogenic cell death may offer personalized strategies to optimize anti-tumor immunity. Once again, the spotlight is on NFκB, which is not only a master regulator of cancer cell death, survival, and inflammation, but also of adaptive anti-tumor immune responses that are triggered by dying tumor cells.
Keywords: NFκB dynamics; anti-tumor immunity; fate decisions; immunogenic cell death; immunotherapy.