NDRG4, an early detection marker for colorectal cancer, is specifically expressed in enteric neurons.
N VaesM H F M LentjesM J GijbelsG RademakersK L DaenenW BoesmansK A D WoutersA GeuzensX QuH P J SteinbuschB P F RuttenS H BaldwinK A SharkeyR M W HofstraM van EngelandP Vanden BergheVeerle MelottePublished in: Neurogastroenterology and motility : the official journal of the European Gastrointestinal Motility Society (2017)
NDRG4 is exclusively expressed by central, peripheral and enteric neurons/nerves, suggesting a neuronal-specific role of this protein. Our findings raise the question whether NDRG4, via the ENS, an understudied component of the tumor microenvironment, supports CRC development and/or progression.