Homeobox protein NK-2 homolog B, NK2 transcription factor like protein B, NK2 transcription factor related locus 2, NKX22, Nkx2b, tinman
Expression of NKX2.2 has been found in neuroendocrine tumors of the gut, making it a potential marker for the study of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors. More recently, NKX2.2 protein was identified as a target of EWS-FLI-1, the fusion protein specific to Ewing sarcoma, and was shown to be differentially upregulated in Ewing sarcoma on the basis of array-based gene expression analysis. It acts as a valuable marker for Ewing sarcoma, with a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 89%, and aids in the differential diagnosis of small round cell tumors.
