Caudal-type homeobox protein 2 (CDX2)

Caudal-type homeobox protein 2 (CDX2) is a critical transcription factor belonging to the homeobox family, primarily responsible for the development and maintenance of the intestinal epithelium (UniProt: P41273). It functions by binding to the promoters of various intestine-specific genes, thereby driving cell differentiation and maintaining the structural integrity of the gut. In clinical oncology, CDX2 is a well-established diagnostic biomarker used to identify tumors of gastrointestinal origin and a prognostic marker in colorectal cancer, where its loss is associated with poor survival (Dalerba et al., NEJM, 2016). While typically acting as a tumor suppressor in the gut, its aberrant expression in the blood is linked to acute myeloid leukemia, where it acts as an oncogene (Scholl et al., JCI, 2007). Although direct therapeutic targeting of CDX2 is currently limited by its nature as a transcription factor, it remains a significant focus for diagnostic stratification and potential indirect therapeutic modulation. Future research aims to exploit CDX2 status for precision medicine, particularly in stratifying patients for adjuvant chemotherapy in early-stage colorectal cancer.

Other names

CDX-2CDX3Caudal-type homeobox 2Homeobox protein CDX-2

Binds to specific DNA sequences (A/T)TTTAT/C in the promoter regions of target genes to regulate the transcription of proteins involved in intestinal cell fate and mucosal maintenance (UniProt: P41273).