The c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) family is a group of regulatory kinases with important functions in cell morphogenesis, inflammation, differentiation, and cell death (1). Aberrant activation of JNK family proteins in cancers has led to interest in small molecule JNK inhibitors as a therapeutic strategy (1). JNK1, also known as MAPK8, is expressed in most tissues and is involved in transduction of extracellular signals such as growth factors or cytokines though a phosphorylation cascade to elicit diverse intracellular responses (1).
