Hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 beta: A perspective in cancer.

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 beta (HNF1 β/B) exists as a homeobox transcription factor having a vital role in the embryonic development of organs mainly liver, kidney and pancreas. Initially described as a gene causing maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), HNF1β expression deregulation and single nucleotide polymorphisms in HNF1β have now been associated with several tumours including endometrial, prostate, ovarian, hepatocellular, renal and colorectal cancers. Its function has been studied either as homodimer or heterodimer with HNF1α. In this review, the role of HNF1B in different cancers will be discussed along with the role of its splice variants, and its emerging role as a potential biomarker in cancer.