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4 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 15 days ago
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FOXB2
forkhead box B2
Chromosome 9 · 9q21.2
NCBI Gene: 442425Ensembl: ENSG00000204612.2HGNC: HGNC:23315UniProt: Q5VYV0
3PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Transcription Factor
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
RNA polymerase II cis-regulatory region sequence-specific DNA bindingDNA-binding transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II-specificanatomical structure morphogenesiscell differentiationDiarrhearesponse to darapladibesophageal ulcersystemic lupus erythematosus
✦AI Summary

FOXB2 is a forkhead box transcription factor with dual and context-dependent roles in disease. As an RNA polymerase II-specific DNA-binding transcription factor, FOXB2 regulates genes involved in cell differentiation and anatomical structure morphogenesis 1. In pancreatic cancer, FOXB2 functions as a tumor suppressor. FOXB2 expression is typically silenced through CpG island methylation in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells, and its reintroduction reduces spheroid formation, suppresses β-catenin expression, and diminishes cancer stem cell populations with high metastatic potential 1. Conversely, in prostate cancer, FOXB2 acts as a potent Wnt pathway activator, promoting malignant transformation. FOXB2 induces multiple Wnt ligands including WNT7B and cooperates with cofactors (YY1, JUN, DDX5) to drive neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer cells, which correlates with decreased recurrence-free survival 2. Beyond cancer, FOXB2 has been identified as a biomarker component in preeclampsia diagnosis, where it is downregulated in patient serum 3. Additionally, transcriptomic analyses in Alzheimer's disease models identified FOXB2 as a critical regulatory gene linked to neuroprotection through modulation of apoptosis and synaptic plasticity 4. These findings demonstrate that FOXB2 functions as a tissue and context-specific transcriptional regulator with opposing roles in different malignancies and potential relevance to neurodegenerative and reproductive diseases.

Sources cited
1
FOXB2 acts as a tumor suppressor in pancreatic cancer, reducing spheroid formation, β-catenin expression, and cancer stem cell populations
PMID: 31433897
2
FOXB2 activates Wnt signaling through WNT7B induction and cooperates with cofactors YY1, JUN, and DDX5 to promote neuroendocrine differentiation in prostate cancer
PMID: 31611391
3
FOXB2 is downregulated in preeclampsia serum and contributes to a biomarker model for PE diagnosis
PMID: 40973864
4
FOXB2 is identified as a critical regulatory gene modulating apoptosis and synaptic plasticity in Alzheimer's disease neuroprotection
PMID: 41443105
⚠Limited data available — This gene has 4 indexed publications. Summary and analysis may be incomplete.
Disease Associationsⓘ20
DiarrheaOpen Targets
0.33Weak
response to darapladibOpen Targets
0.33Weak
esophageal ulcerOpen Targets
0.22Weak
systemic lupus erythematosusOpen Targets
0.13Weak
prostate cancerOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
ocular hypotensionOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
cancerOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
dental cariesOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
denturesOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
response to antihypertensive drugOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
preeclampsiaOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
anemia (phenotype)Open Targets
0.02Suggestive
exostosisOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
kidney diseaseOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
Loss of consciousnessOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
hidradenitisOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
hepatocellular carcinomaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
pancreatic neoplasmOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
breast carcinomaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
FOXD4Shared pathway100%FOXD2Shared pathway100%FOXQ1Shared pathway100%FOXD4L1Shared pathway100%FOXD4L3Shared pathway100%FOXD4L4Shared pathway100%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Brain
100%
Lung
0%
Heart
0%
Bone Marrow
0%
Liver
0%
Ovary
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
FOXB2FOXD4FOXD2FOXQ1FOXD4L1FOXD4L3FOXD4L4
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt Q5VYV0
View on AlphaFold ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
1.94LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.12Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF2.86 [0.37–1.94]
RankingsWhere FOXB2 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #18,858of 20,598
    Most Researched3
  • #17,532of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.94
Genes detectedFOXB2
Sources retrieved4 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
4
1
Forkhead box B2 inhibits the malignant characteristics of the pancreatic cancer cell line Panc-1 in vitro.
PMID: 31433897
Genes Cells · 2019
1.00
2
Wnt activator FOXB2 drives the neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer.
PMID: 31611391
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · 2019
0.75
3
A signature serum biomarker for non-invasive diagnosis of preeclampsia patients.
PMID: 40973864
J Assist Reprod Genet · 2025
0.50
4
Thymosin β4-derived peptides alleviate neuroinflammation and neurite atrophy in both in vitro models and in vivo 5 × FAD mice: A potential therapy for memory improvement in Alzheimer's disease.
PMID: 41443105
Int Immunopharmacol · 2026
0.25