Identification of novel polymorphisms in the AXIN1++ and CDX-2 genes.

Axin and Cdx-2 play important roles in the tumorigenesis of human liver and colon. We have identified seven novel single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the AXIN1 gene and three in the CDX-2 gene. The identification of SNPs in these cancer-associated genes establishes a basis for future investigations to detect losses of heterozygosity in tumors; these SNPs may also provide genetic background information associated with cancer risk.