Barx1, a homeobox-containing gene, has diverse essential functions. During mouse embryonic development, it is expressed in molar tooth and stomach mesenchymal cells. In molar development, it instructs undetermined ectomesenchymal cells in the jaws to follow a multicuspid tooth developmental pathway. In the presumptive stomach mesenchyme, it attenuates Wnt signalling to allow stomach epithelium differentiation [3].

In disease-related studies, in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), loss of ZFP36 leads to BARX1 upregulation, promoting cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by transactivating master oncogenes [1]. In osteosarcoma, BARX1 is highly expressed, and its downregulation suppresses cell proliferation and migration. It promotes these processes by inducing HSPA6 expression [2]. In lung adenocarcinoma, BARX1 represses FOXF1 expression and activates the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway to drive malignancy [4]. In gastrointestinal stromal tumor, BARX1 is expressed in indolent and micro-GISTs, and its expression pattern can predict relapse-free survival [5].

In conclusion, Barx1 plays crucial roles in embryonic development, especially in tooth and stomach formation. In disease, it is involved in the development and progression of various cancers including NSCLC, osteosarcoma, lung adenocarcinoma, and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Studies using gene-related models like those in the referenced research help reveal these functions, providing insights into disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.