Several dual-specificity phosphatases (DUSPs) that play key roles in the direct 
or indirect inactivation of different MAP kinases (MAPKs) have been implicated 
in human cancers over the past decade. This has led to a growing interest in 
identifying DUSPs and their specific inhibitors for further testing and 
validation as therapeutic targets in human cancers. However, the lack of 
understanding of the complex regulatory mechanisms and cross-talks between MAPK 
signaling pathways, combined with the fact that DUSPs can act as a double-edged 
sword in cancer progression, calls for a more careful and thorough 
investigation. Among the various types of brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme 
(GBM) is notorious for its aggressiveness and resistance to current treatment 
modalities. This has led to the search for new molecular targets, particularly 
those involving various signaling pathways. DUSPs appear to be a promising 
target, but much more information on DUSP targets and their effects on GBM is 
needed before potential therapies can be developed, tested, and validated. This 
review identifies and summarize the specific roles of DUSP1, DUSP4, DUSP6 and 
DUSP26 that have been implicated in GBM.