SIX homeobox 2 (SIX2)

SIX homeobox 2 (SIX2) is a protein-coding transcription factor in the homeobox family, homologous to Drosophila sine oculis protein. SIX2 regulates gene expression necessary for the development of organs such as the kidney, craniofacial structures, and stomach. It maintains nephron progenitor cells by opposing differentiation signals, controls craniofacial cartilage growth, and is implicated in congenital defects when mutated. Overexpression of SIX2 in cancers (notably breast cancer) supports epithelial–mesenchymal transition, cell migration, and metastasis, contributing to poor clinical outcomes. SIX2 and related SIX proteins also impact the cell cycle, progenitor cell maintenance, apoptosis suppression, and stem cell phenotypes. No drugs currently directly modulate SIX2 in clinical use, but SIX2 is under investigation as a potential target for therapeutic intervention in cancer and for its role in developmental disorders

Other names

SIX2Sine oculis homeobox homolog 2Sine oculis-related homeobox 2SOHO2

Not applicable for direct drugs; for hypothetical drugs, would involve inhibition or modulation of transcriptional activity, suppression of progenitor cell self-renewal, reversal of epithelial–mesenchymal transition, or reduction of oncogenic gene expression