NF-κB Signaling in Prostate Cancer Progression: Inflammatory Mediators, Survival Pathways, and Regulatory Axes

Prostate cancer (PC) progression is increasingly recognized as a dynamic, inflammation-driven process in which chronic immune dysregulation contributes to disease aggressiveness and therapeutic resistance. Among inflammatory signaling pathways, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) has been consistently implicated in prostate tumorigenesis, castration resistance, and apoptosis resistance. However, despite the extensive literature on NF-κB biology, the mechanisms by which its dysregulation is sustained and functionally shaped during PC progression remain incompletely understood. This review synthesizes current evidence on prostate cancer-specific NF-κB signaling, with an emphasis on stage-dependent activation, molecular regulation within the tumor microenvironment, and downstream transcriptional programs linked to survival and treatment resistance. Particular attention is given to the regulatory role of B-cell lymphoma-3 (BCL-3), an atypical nuclear IκB protein, and its potential interplay with B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2), a well-established NF-κB-regulated anti-apoptotic factor in PC. Available clinical, molecular, and transcriptomic data support constitutive NF-κB activation across multiple stages of PC, particularly in advanced and castration-resistant disease. Although BCL-2 overexpression is well documented as a mediator of apoptosis resistance in PC, evidence directly linking BCL-3 to BCL-2 regulation in this disease remains limited. Data from other malignancies suggest that BCL-3 can modulate NF-κB transcriptional output and enhance BCL-2 expression; however, prostate-specific mechanistic validation is lacking. We propose a testable, hypothesis-driven model in which BCL-3 may function as a context-dependent regulator of NF-κB-mediated survival signaling in PC, potentially influencing BCL-2 expression and therapeutic resistance. However, this relationship remains speculative and is not yet supported by direct mechanistic evidence in PC. By distinguishing between established evidence and inferred mechanisms, this review highlights critical knowledge gaps and outlines experimental strategies to clarify the functional relevance of the BCL-3/BCL-2 axis. Improved understanding of NF-κB regulatory dynamics may inform the development of more precise, stage-adapted therapeutic strategies for advanced PC.