Treatments with SB202190 (the p38 MAPK inhibitor) enhanced VEGF-mediated protection of the serum-deprived neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells by reducing caspase-3 and caspase-7 activities and increasing the phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and Akt signaling pathway through activation of VEGFR-2. The gene discussed is CASP3; the disease is neuroblastoma.