c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is involved in cancer cell apoptosis; however, emerging evidence indicates that this Janus signaling promotes cancer cell survival. JNK acts synergistically with NF-κB, JAK/STAT, and other signaling molecules to exert a survival function. JNK positively regulates autophagy to counteract apoptosis, and its effect on autophagy is related to the development of chemotherapeutic resistance. The prosurvival effect of JNK may involve an immune evasion mechanism mediated by transforming growth factor-β, toll-like receptors, interferon-γ, and autophagy, as well as compensatory JNK-dependent cell proliferation. The present review focuses on recent advances in understanding the prosurvival function of JNK and its role in tumor development and chemoresistance, including a comprehensive analysis of the molecular mechanisms underlying JNK-mediated cancer cell survival. There is a focus on the specific "Yin and Yang" functions of JNK1 and JNK2 in the regulation of cancer cell survival. We highlight recent advances in our knowledge of the roles of JNK in cancer cell survival, which may provide insight into the distinct functions of JNK in cancer and its potential for cancer therapy.

College of Life Science Yangtze University Jingzhou China

College of Veterinary Medicine Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing China

Department of Chemistry Faculty of Science University of Hradec Kralove Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology Harvard Medical School Boston MA

Malaysia Japan International Institute of Technology Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

National Reference Laboratory of Veterinary Drug Residues and MAO Key Laboratory for Detection of Veterinary Drug Residues Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan China

Transcriptional Networks in Lung Cancer Group Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute The University of Manchester Manchester United Kingdom

References provided by Crossref.org

c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling in aging

Hypoxia-inducible factors: master regulators of hypoxic tumor immune escape

Selective inhibitors for JNK signalling: a potential targeted therapy in cancer