Mechanistically, binding of BMP7 to its receptor BMP receptor 2 (BMPR2) on prostate cancer cells activates p38 signaling; in turn, it induces reversible growth arrest by increasing the expression of the cell cycle inhibitor p21 and the metastasis suppressor gene NDRG1 (N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1). This evidence concerns the gene MAPK14 and prostate cancer.