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p38 MAP kinase's emerging role as a tumor suppressor

Dmitry V Bulavin1, Albert J Fornace

  • 1Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Singapore.

Advances in Cancer Research
|November 9, 2004
PubMed

Insights

p38 proteins, a family of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), regulate tumorigenesis by controlling cell cycle progression. They act as tumor suppressors by activating tumor suppressor pathways and inhibiting oncogenic signals.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cellular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • p38 proteins are evolutionally conserved mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK).
  • p38 MAPK plays roles in regulating tumorigenesis via cellular growth control.
  • Known proapoptotic functions are complemented by new data on cell cycle regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of p38 MAPK in tumor suppression.
  • To highlight p38 MAPK's regulation of cell cycle progression.
  • To discuss p38 MAPK's influence on tumor suppressor and oncogenic pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on p38 MAPK.
  • Analysis of p38 MAPK's role in cell cycle control.
  • Examination of p38 MAPK's interaction with tumor suppressor and oncogenic pathways.

Main Results:

  • p38 MAPK positively regulates p53- and Rb-dependent tumor suppressor pathways.
  • p38 MAPK attenuates oncogenic signals from Cdc25A and Cdc25B phosphatases.
  • p38 MAPK contributes to the negative regulation of cell cycle progression.

Conclusions:

  • p38 MAPK exhibits tumor suppressor functions.
  • p38 MAPK is a critical regulator of cell cycle progression in tumorigenesis.
  • The p38 MAPK pathway represents a potential target for cancer therapy.

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