The findings show that mitochondrial apoptosis induced by iodine-fortified lettuce in gastric cancer cells may be carried out through the p38 MAPK/MAPKAPK-2/c-Jun signaling pathway where pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members, such as Bad, Bax, and BID, are involved followed by a mitochondrial release of cytochrome c. Here, MAPKAPK2 is linked to gastric cancer.