MAPK8 and cancer: MAPK is a serine/threonine-specific protein kinase family responsible for various cellular activities including cell cycle, differentiation, cell survival and mitosis.27 Nonetheless, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38, two members of MAPK family, are associated with apoptosis induction, while Erk plays a cytoprotective role28 and is linked to malignant transformation of human cancers.