The emerging role of inhibitor of growth 4 as a tumor suppressor in multiple human cancers.

Inhibitor of growth 4 (ING4), a member of the conserved ING family, has been identified as an important tumor suppressor since it plays a critical role in the regulation of chromatin modification, cell proliferation, angiogenesis and cell migration. Some observations suggest that ING4 acts as a key regulator of tumorigenesis through modifying gene transcription in part by regulating the transcription factors p53 and NF-kappaB (NF-κB). However, these models have yet to be substantiated by further investigations. Numerous reports describe the reduced expression of ING4 in cancers, and the responsible mechanisms are involved in gene deletion, mutation, transcriptional and post-transcriptional dysregulation. This review aims to summarize the recent published literature that investigates the role of ING4 in regulating tumorigenesis and progression, and explore its potential for cancer treatment.