This gene encodes a member of the Iroquois homeobox protein family. Homeobox genes in this family are involved in pattern formation in the embryo. The gene product has been identified as a tumor suppressor in gastric (PMID: 21602894, 20440264) and head and neck cancers (PMID: 18559491). A pseudogene of this gene is located on chromosome 13. [provided by RefSeq, Dec 2011].
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Guo, Guo, Zhi, Ji, Jiang, Zhang, Zhang, Zhang, Chen, Cai, Li, Yan, Gu, Liu, Zhu, Yu: "Helicobacter pylori induces promoter hypermethylation and downregulates gene expression of IRX1 transcription factor on human gastric mucosa." in: Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology, Vol. 26, Issue 11, pp. 1685-90, (2011) (PubMed).
Guo, Liu, Pan, Ni, Ji, Guo, Zhang, Wu, Jiang, Chen, Cai, Li, Zhang, Gu, Liu, Zhu, Yu: "Homeobox gene IRX1 is a tumor suppressor gene in gastric carcinoma." in: Oncogene, Vol. 29, Issue 27, pp. 3908-20, (2010) (PubMed).