AUTHOR=Eccles Mike R., Li Caiyun G.

TITLE=PAX Genes in Cancer; Friends or Foes?

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics

VOLUME=3

YEAR=2012

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2012.00006

DOI=10.3389/fgene.2012.00006

ISSN=1664-8021

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>PAX</italic> genes have been shown to be critically required for the development of specific tissues and organs during embryogenesis. In addition, <italic>PAX</italic> genes are expressed in a handful of adult tissues where they are thought to play important roles, usually different from those in embryogenesis. A common theme in adult tissues is a requirement for <italic>PAX</italic> gene expression in adult stem cell maintenance or tissue regeneration. The connections between adult stem cell <italic>PAX</italic> gene expression and cancer are intriguing, and the literature is replete with examples of <italic>PAX</italic> gene expression in either situation. Here we systematically review the literature and present an overview of postnatal <italic>PAX</italic> gene expression in normal and cancerous tissue. We discuss the potential link between <italic>PAX</italic> gene expression in adult tissue and cancer. In addition, we discuss whether persistent <italic>PAX</italic> gene expression in cancer is favorable or unfavorable.</p>