NF-κB-associated mechanisms underlying the response of embryonic cells to Doxorubicin

► p65−/− MEFs exhibited a more prominent DOX-induced decrease in cell survival and proliferation. ► Only p65−/− MEFs exhibited a DOX-induced increase in the proportion of apoptotic cells. ► DOX-induced changes in the expression of p65, p53 and bcl-2 differed among WT and p65−/− MEFs.