Advance in research of CDX2 and CDH17 in gastric cancer

Caudal-related homeobox transcription factor CDX2 is a specific nuclear transcription factor. It seems to play a key role in intestinal development and differentiation in normal and cancer tissues, and it is important for the maintenance of intestinal epithelium cells, liver-intestine cadherin(CDHIT) as one protein has intimate correlation with invasion and metastasis of tumor, has as well as highly expresses in intestinal-mucosa. Recent studies indicate that CDX2 and CDHI7 is closely associated with tumorigenesis,differentia-tion and metastasis. They might act as a new biomarker of gastric cancer diagnosis and a new target of tumor gene therapy. Key words: CDX2; CDHI7; gastric cancer