E6-mediated survival signaling. The figure summarizes the different survival signalling pathways activated by the viral protein E6. While it activates the mitogenic signals in the Ras/Raf/Mek pathway, E6 blocks the p53 activation in turn inhibiting the action of p21, all ultimately inducing cell survival. E6 also upregulates the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and inhibits apoptosis by the activation of an inhibitor-of-apoptosis protein (cIAP2) thereby obstructing apoptosis.