ATF2 and colorectal carcinoma: To analyze whether type I p38α inhibitors are able to block p38α signaling in CRC, the activities of p38α and its downstream targets heat-shock protein 27 (Hsp27), MAPK-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2), activating transcription factor 2 (Atf2) and ETS transcription factor Elk1 (refs. 16,23,24) were determined by western blot analyses in KAP2D cells.