PODXL - Marker for podocytes in glomeruli

The PODXL gene encodes for the podocalyxin-like protein 1 which is expressed in podocytes of the kidney glomeruli. PODXL is involved in the regulation of cell adhesion and cell morphology and functions to maintain the filtration pathway in glomeruli by anti-adhesive action on podocytes. PODXL has also been implicated in cancer progression by inducing cell migration and invasion. Based on its role in cancer, PODXL has been suggested as an emerging prognostic biomarker in various forms of cancer such as colorectal cancer.