The protein kinase IKK epsilon shapes the melanoma tumor microenvironment by modulating angiogenesis and the T-cell immunity

Background

Inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase epsilon (IKKε) contributes to tumorigenesis and metastasis in various cancers. In melanoma, it is overexpressed and constitutively active. Inhibition of IKKε by either knockdown or pharmaceutical compounds reduce tumor progression by suppressing key molecular pathways within melanoma tumor cells. However, within the tumor microenvironment (TME), the role of this protein remains to be fully elucidated.