Protein kinase Cε makes the life and death decision

Cancer is caused by dysregulation in cellular signaling systems that control cell proliferation, differentiation and cell death. Protein kinase C (PKC), a family of serine/threonine kinases, plays an important role in the growth factor signal transduction pathway. PKCε, however, is the only PKCε isozyme that has been considered as an oncogene. It can contribute to malignancy by enhancing cell proliferation or by inhibiting cell death. This review focuses on how PKCε collaborates with other signaling pathways, such as Ras/Raf/ERK and Akt, to regulate cell survival and cell death. We have also discussed how PKCε mediates its antiapoptotic signal by altering the level or function of pro- and antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family members.