Family with sequence similarity 72 member B (FAM72B)

Family with sequence similarity 72 member B (FAM72B) is a cytosolic and intracellular membrane-associated protein involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and DNA repair. FAM72B accumulates on chromatin during DNA replication and in response to genotoxic stress, likely acting alongside replication protein A (RPA) and uracil-DNA glycosylase (UNG), possibly influencing base excision repair and the maintenance of genomic stability. High expression of FAM72B is associated with poor prognosis in several cancers (e.g., prostate cancer, lung adenocarcinoma), and its depletion reduces tumor cell proliferation and induces apoptosis. FAM72B modulates immune cell infiltration within the tumor microenvironment, and downstream gene set enrichment implicates it in signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR, KRAS, and cell cycle checkpoints. While not a direct therapeutic target at present, it is an emerging biomarker for prognosis and potentially for response to anticancer therapies.

Other names

Protein FAM72Bp17RP11-439A17.6Amyloid-beta peptide-induced protein p17

Not directly targeted by any approved drugs; implicated in cell cycle and DNA repair, therefore may modulate response to DNA-damaging chemotherapeutics (e.g., docetaxel)