A high basal expression of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) has been reported in aggressive breast cancer cells, according to an unknown mechanism, and contributes to their invasive abilities. Here, we report the involvement of Sp1 and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) transcription factors in this high basal expression of MnSOD in aggressive breast cancer cells. Suppression or inactivation of Sp1 showed that it plays an essential role in the high MnSOD expression in aggressive breast cancer cells through a unique binding site identified by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay and functional analysis of the MnSOD proximal promoter. Treatment of cells with a specific NF-kappaB inhibitor peptide decreased significantly high basal MnSOD expression. A ChIP assay showed binding of a constitutive p50/p65 NF-kappaB complex to the MnSOD intronic enhancer element, associated with hyperacetylation of the H3 histone. Finally, high basal expression of MnSOD resulted in the lack of expression of Damaged DNA binding 2 (DDB2) protein in aggressive breast cancer cells. DDB2 overexpression prevented the binding of Sp1 as well as of NF-kappaB to their respective elements on the MnSOD gene. These results contribute to a better understanding of MnSOD up-regulation, which may be clinically important in the prediction of breast tumor progression.