The role of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cellular signaling pathway in tumor cell survival and apoptosis.

A number of signaling pathways are important in the initiation and maintenance of tumor cell survival and growth. Mitogen activated protein kinases are a family of kinases of different lineages that are thought to be important in tumor growth and metastasis. These pathways provide insight into how tumor cells may escape killing by different agents. In addition, since these pathways are involved in tumor cell survival, several strategies to inhibit them are being tested for novel cancer therapies. This review summarizes the evidence for the role of these pathways in cancer and the current status of therapies.