Phosphorylation of p38 MAPK is selectively and strongly depressed without altering the amount of protein in FIS-treated cells, while the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK1/2 and AKT show no significant changes, indicating that FIS inhibits uPA expression and reduces migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells via inactivation of the p38 MAPK pathway. This evidence concerns the gene PLAU and cervical cancer.