MAPK3 and cancer: In the present study, the results present an extension of our prior findings by showing that the synergistic TP/HCTP anticancer effect in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells is mediated by apoptosis induction via activation of mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway, along with enhanced PP2A activity as well as activation of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPKs cascades and inhibition of Akt survival pathway, which provide new insight into the mode of action of the traditional Chinese medicine TP together with HCPT in cancer therapy.