The Coding Region Determinant-Binding Protein (CRD-BP) is an RRM and 
KH-domain-containing protein that recognizes specifically at least three RNAs. 
It binds to one of the two c-myc mRNA instability elements, to the 5'Un 
Translated Region (UTR) of the leader 3 IGF-II mRNA and to the oncofetal H19 
RNA. CRD-BP has been assigned a role in stabilizing c-myc mRNA by preventing its 
endonucleolytic cleavage and in repressing the translation of the leader 3 
IGF-II mRNA, the major embryonic species of this message. CRD-BP is normally 
expressed only in fetal tissues. However, its expression is detected in primary 
tumors and transformed cell lines of different origins. The vast majority of 
colon (80%) and breast (60%) tumors and sarcomas (73%) express CRD-BP whereas in 
other tumor types, for example prostate carcinomas, its expression is rare. 
CRD-BP expression has also been detected in benign tumors such as breast 
fibroadenomas, meningiomas and other benign mesenchymal tumors, implying a role 
for this gene in abnormal cell proliferation. In breast carcinomas, CRD-BP 
expression and or gene copy number gains in the region encompassing the c-myc 
locus were detected in approximately 75% of tumors, implying that the 
deregulated expression of c-myc may be more widespread than previously believed. 
Infiltrated lymph nodes, corresponding to CRD-BP-positive primary tumors, were 
also found positive indicating that monitoring for CRD-BP could prove useful for 
the detection and monitoring of disseminated disease.