We propose that STRA13 may play a critical role in carcinogenesis, since it is a potent transcriptional regulator, abundant in a variety of common tumors.
However, the complex mechanisms underlying DEC1 during carcinogenesis are controversial, and its roles in the development and malignancy of gastric cancer (GC) remain unclear.
DEC1 has been suggested to play key roles in mammalian cell differentiation, the cell cycle and circadian regulation, hypoxia response, and carcinogenesis.
Differentiated embryonic chondrocyte expressed gene 1 (DEC1; BHLHE40/Stra13/Sharp2) and differentiated embryonic chondrocyte expressed gene 2 (DEC2; BHLHE41/Sharp1) are basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcriptional factors that are involved in the regulation of cell differentiation, circadian rhythms, response to hypoxia and carcinogenesis.
We later clarified the role of DEC1 in the tumorigenesis using the colony formation, anchorage-independent growth assay, and cellular proliferation analysis.