['NF-kappaB is a transcription factor that promotes inhibition of apoptosis and resistance to chemotherapy. It is commonly believed that inhibition of NF-kappaB activity can increase sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapy. However, there is evidence that NF-kappaB activation can sensitize cells to apoptosis and that inhibition of NF-kappaB results in resistance to chemotherapy. In prostate cancer, it is not clear in the different cell types (androgen-dependent and castration-resistant) if activation or inhibition of NF-kappaB is required for stimulation of apoptosis by chemotherapy.', 'Our data indicate that the response of prostate cancer (PC) cells to the antimitotic drugs docetaxel (Doc) and 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2) is dependent on the levels of NF-kappaB activity. In androgen-dependent LNCaP cells, Doc and 2ME2 treatment increased the low basal NF-kappaB activity, as determined by Western blot analysis of phospho-IkappaBalpha/p65, NF-kappaB promoter reporter assays, and p65 localization. Treatment of LNCaP cells with parthenolide, a pharmacologic inhibitor of NF-kappaB, or introduction of dominant-negative IkappaBalpha, or an shRNA specific for p65, a component of the NF-kappaB heterodimer, blocked apoptosis induced by Doc and 2ME2. In castration-resistant DU145 and PC3 cells, Doc and 2ME2 had little effect on the high basal NF-kappaB activity and addition of parthenolide did not enhance cell death. However, the combination of Doc or 2ME2 with betulinic acid (BA), a triterpenoid that activates NF-kappaB, stimulated apoptosis in LNCaP and non-apoptotic cell death in DU145 and PC3 cells. Increased sensitivity to cell death mediated by the Doc or 2ME2 + BA combination is likely due to increased NF-kappaB activity.'] Does nF-kappaB activation enhance cell death by antimitotic drugs in human prostate cancer cells?