IKK complex phosphorylation of the TPL‐2 C‐terminus induces an association between 14‐3‐3 and tumour progression locus 2 (TPL‐2), stimulating TPL‐2 MEK‐1 kinase activity, which is essential for TPL‐2‐mediated activation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase‐1/2 (ERK‐1/2). Here, MAP3K8 is linked to neoplasm.