Figure 1. PAKs and cancer hallmarks. PAKs are effectors of Rac/Cdc42 and play a key role in some of cancer hallmarks, including proliferative signaling, resisting cell death, activating invasion and metastasis and inducing angiogenesis. PAKs can regulate cell proliferation through the Raf/Mek pathway. Cell motility can be affected by PAKs phosphorylation of cytoskeletal targets, such as LIMK, which phosphorylates cofilin. PAK1 also phosphorylates Bad directly and indirectly via Raf-1, thus promoting cell survival by anti-apoptosis. NFκB is regulated by PAK indirectly to promote cell survival. Other cancer hallmarks are also affected indirectly by PAKs.