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Engrailed homeobox transcription factors as potential markers and targets in cancer
Author(s) -
McGrath Sophie E.,
Michael Agnieszka,
Pandha Hardev,
Morgan Richard
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2013.01.054
Subject(s) - homeobox , engrailed , hnf1b , emx2 , biology , transcription factor , homeobox a1 , prostate cancer , homeobox protein nkx 2.5 , gene , cancer , cancer research , genetics
Engrailed ( En ) is a member of the homeobox gene family, which encodes a homeodomain‐containing transcription factor that is essential during early development. The only known site of normal adult Engrailed protein (EN) expression is in the nervous system, and it has been implicated in the development of both young‐onset Parkinson's disease as well as autism. Over‐expression of EN has been linked to tumour development in adults, particularly in breast, prostate, melanoma and ovarian cancers, and there is a growing interest in its role as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. It is hoped that further work may confirm associations between En expression and therapy‐resistant, poor prognosis cancers, similar to that identified with other homeobox gene profiles.