Background：Villin 1(VIL1) is a 95-kd F-actin bundling and severing protein and its expression is restricted to epithelial cells with a brush border, like epithelial cells of the intestinal mucosa, gall bladder, renal proximal tubules and ductuli efferentes of the testis. VIL1 has been reported to be an epithelial cell-specific anti-apoptotic protein, and to have an important function in regulating actin dynamics, cell morphology, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions, cell migration and cell survival. In addition, VIL1 is a useful diagnostic marker for of various cancer, like cervical and endometrial adenocarcinomas, renal cell carcinoma. VIL1 was recently identified as a novel biomarker predictive for postoperative recurrence and poorer prognosis of high serum AFP associated HCC.
