Olfactomedin 4 (OLFM4) [MD325R]

Olfactomedin 4, encoded by the OLFM4 gene in humans, is a member of the Olfactomedin family. OLFM4 is a secreted glycoprotein, which forms disulfide bond-mediated oligomers, and is thought to promote tumor growth and is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein that facilitates cell adhesion. Among normal tissues, the expression of OLFM4 protein is most abundant in intestinal crypts, where it has garnered attention as a possible marker of intestinal stem cells. Notably, OLFM4 expression is markedly increased in several tumor types, including colorectal, gastric, pancreas, lung, and breast. Furthermore, research studies show that the expression levels of OLFM4 vary in relation to the severity and/or differentiation status of multiple tumor types, leading to the suggestion that OLFM4 may have utility as a prognostic marker in some cancer patients.