Considering the report that enhancement of CX43‐based gap junctional communication promoted chemoresistance to TMZ and VCR of cancer cells6 and AS602801 down‐regulated expression of CX43 via modulating activation of JNK15 together with the data obtained from this study, AS602801 sensitized glioma cells to the inhibitory effect of TMZ and VCR via regulating signalling pathway of p‐JNK/CX43/CASP‐3 expression. Here, MAPK8 is linked to central nervous system cancer.