title: PAX genes in childhood oncogenesis: developmental biology gone awry?
abstract: Childhood solid tumors often arise from embryonal-like cells, which are distinct from the epithelial cancers observed in adults, and etiologically can be considered as 'developmental patterning gone awry'. Paired-box (PAX) genes encode a family of evolutionarily conserved transcription factors that are important regulators of cell lineage specification, migration and tissue patterning. PAX loss-of-function mutations are well known to cause potent developmental phenotypes in animal models and underlie genetic disease in humans, whereas dysregulation and/or genetic modification of PAX genes have been shown to function as critical triggers for human tumorigenesis. Consequently, exploring PAX-related pathobiology generates insights into both normal developmental biology and key molecular mechanisms that underlie pediatric cancer, which are the topics of this review.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mahajan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Leavey
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA [2] Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA [3] Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Galindo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D015509:Developmental Biology / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors