MAPK8 and neoplasm: A similar mechanism was proposed in elimination of oncogenic cells in Drosophila imaginal epithelia, where dJNK signaling in tumor cells induced their dJNK-dependent phagocytosis by neighboring cells.44 In addition, JNK pathway activity has been detected in mammalian macrophages and epithelial cells during engulfment of apoptotic cells in vitro,45, 46 suggesting a conserved role for JNK signaling in phagocytosis.