Our results demonstrating that p38α promotes proliferation, by upregulating MYC mRNA levels are in line with the protumorigenic functions of p38 and with recent studies in breast, head and neck cancers and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (Leelahavanichkul et al, 2014; Li et al, 2017; Wada et al, 2017). The gene discussed is MAPK14; the disease is head and neck cancer.