In addition to being a central coordinator of immune responses, NF‐κB signaling also plays a critical role in cancer development and progression and it may determine the response to therapy. NF‐κB activation was shown to provide a critical mechanistic link between inflammation and cancer and is a major factor that controls the ability of both preneoplastic and malignant cells to resist apoptosis‐based tumor surveillance mechanisms. NF‐κB may also be involved in regulation of tumor angiogenesis and invasiveness. Importantly, NF‐κB and the signaling pathways that mediate its activation have become attractive targets for development of new chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic approaches. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.