Mitogen activated protein kinase phosphatases and cancer

Deregulation of cell signaling is a vital part of cancer development. The mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) family is involved in regulating both cell growth and cell death. This family of kinases is negatively regulated by mitogen activated protein kinase phosphatases (MKPs). MKPs are dual specificity phosphatases that target threonine and tyrosine residues that appear in a TXY motif. There are eleven members of the MKP family. Expression of MKPs has been shown to be altered in many different types of cancer. Most of what is known centers on MKP-1, MKP-2 and MKP-3. This review will focus on their role in cancer development and progression.