Abstract
Many studies have focused on how cellular transcription factors (TFs) regulate gene transcription. Evidence suggests that activation or repression of a variety of genes are the result of conflicting positive and negative regulatory TFs. KRAB (Kruppel-associated box)-ZFPs (zinc-finger proteins) constitute a massive family of tetrapod-specific transcription repressors that have pivotal roles in cellular processes, including differentiation, proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and inflammation. Because a large number of KRAB-ZFPs are identified in higher vertebrates, it is a well-understood member of the transcription system. Even though the function of KRAB-ZFPs has been identified, unraveling its specific role in cancer is still a challenge. In addition to its major activity in transcription repression, however, some of its families have the opposite function of target gene activation. Here, we review the current understanding of how KRAB-ZFPs are associated with cancer, and discuss the mechanism that regulates transcriptional activation or repression of target genes.
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