DEFB132 (defensin beta 132) encodes an antimicrobial peptide with antibacterial activity 1. As a beta-defensin, it functions as a key component of the innate immune system with roles in antimicrobial defense and cell signaling 1. DEFB132 exhibits notable genetic diversity, particularly in hunter-gatherer populations where it carries a four-state amino acid polymorphism at position 93 (valine, isoleucine, alanine, and threonine), suggesting evolutionary adaptation to varying selective pressures across human populations 1. In cancer contexts, DEFB132 has emerged as a potential biomarker with clinical significance. It was identified as a differentially expressed gene associated with breast cancer diagnosis and prognosis, alongside genes like CRYAB, MAOA, and RBP4 2. Additionally, DEFB132 was identified as a possible novel triple-negative breast cancer driver gene in African populations, with somatic mutations and copy number variations in the 20p13 region containing DEFB132 3. The gene was also found amplified in tongue cancer recurrence tissue in young adults 4. These findings suggest DEFB132 may have broader roles beyond antimicrobial immunity, potentially relevant to cancer biology, though its mechanisms in these contexts require further investigation.