The dual role of the X-linked FoxP3 gene in human cancers

Margaret Redpath; Bin Xu; Leon C van Kempen; Alan Spatz

doi:10.1016/j.molonc.2011.03.001

The dual role of the X-linked FoxP3 gene in human cancers

Mol Oncol. 2011 Apr;5(2):156-63. doi: 10.1016/j.molonc.2011.03.001. Epub 2011 Mar 30.

Authors

Margaret Redpath¹, Bin Xu, Leon C van Kempen, Alan Spatz

Affiliation

¹ Department of Pathology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Abstract

The FoxP3 (forkhead box P3) gene is an X-linked gene that is submitted to inactivation. It is an essential transcription factor in CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3 regulatory T cells, which are therapeutic targets in disseminated cutaneous melanoma. Moreover, FoxP3 is an important tumor suppressor gene in carcinomas and has putative cancer suppressor gene function in cutaneous melanoma as well. Therefore understanding the structure and function of the FoxP3 gene is crucial to gaining insight into the biology of melanoma to better develop immunotherapeutics and future therapeutic strategies.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics*
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
Humans
Melanoma / genetics
Neoplasms / genetics*
Skin Neoplasms / genetics

Substances

FOXP3 protein, human
Forkhead Transcription Factors