摘要
Given the rapid development in precision medicine, tremendous efforts have been devoted to discovering new biomarkers for disease diagnosis and treatment. Esophageal cancer-related gene-4 (ECRG4),which is initially known as a new candidate tumor suppressor gene, is emerging as a sentinel molecule for gauging tissue homeostasis. ECRG4 is unique in its cytokine-like functional pattern and epigenetically-regulated gene expression pattern. The gene can be released from the cell membrane upon activation and detected in liquid biopsy, thus offering considerable potential in precision medicine. This review provides an updated summary on the biology of ECRG4, with emphasis on its important roles in cancer diagnosis and therapy. The future perspectives of ECRG4 as a potential molecular marker in precision medicine are also discussed in detail.
基金
the Major Program Development Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.30600492)
the Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province (No.2016JM 3010)
Xiangyang Science and Technology (Intellectual Property) Bureau (2016 file No.73)
the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (No.2014CFC1154)
the Teachers’ Scientific A bility Cultivation Foundation of Hubei University of Arts and Science (No.2017KYPY004).
