ERK2, but not ERK1, mediates acquired and "de novo" resistance to imatinib mesylate: implication for CML therapy.

Resistance to Imatinib Mesylate (IM) is a major problem in Chronic Myelogenous Leukaemia management. Most of the studies about resistance have focused on point mutations on BCR/ABL. However, other types of resistance that do not imply mutations in BCR/ABL have been also described.

c-Abl activates p38 MAPK independently of its tyrosine kinase activity: Implications in cisplatin-based therapy.

Activation of p38 MAPK is a critical requisite for the therapeutics activity of the antitumor agent cisplatin. In this sense, a growing body of evidences supports the role of c-Abl as a major determinant of p38 MAPK activation, especially in response to genotoxic stress when triggered by cisplatin. Here, we demonstrate that p38 MAPK activation in response to cisplatin does not require the tyrosine kinase activity of c-Abl.

Full activation of PKB/Akt in response to insulin or ionizing radiation is mediated through ATM.

The gene mutated in ataxia telangiectasia, ATM, has been implicated in several cell functions such as cell cycle control and response to DNA damage and insulin. PKB/Akt has also been implicated in the cellular response to insulin, gamma-radiation, and cell cycle control. Interestingly, lack of PKB/Akt function in vivo is able to mimic some phenotypic abnormalities associated with ataxia telangiectasia (AT).

Modulation of the p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway through Bcr/Abl: implications in the cellular response to Ara-C.

The chimaeric protein Bcr/Abl, the hallmark of chronic myeloid leukaemia, has been connected with several signalling pathways, such as those involving protein kinase B/Akt, JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) or ERKs (extracellular-signal-regulated kinases) 1 and 2. However, no data about the p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) have been reported. Here, we present evidence showing that Bcr/Abl is able to modulate this signalling pathway.