TACC1 (transforming acidic coiled coil gene 1) is one of three TACC family members, which are thought to be involved in breast tumorigenesis. TACC1 is located on 8p11 chromosomal region that is amplified in approximately 15% of all breast tumor samples. The short arm of chromosome 8 also contains FGFR1 whose expression is enhanced in most breast cancer tumors. TACC family members, TACC1, TACC2, and TACC3, map very closely to the corresponding FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3 genes on chromosomes 8, 10, and 4. Subsequently, since they are phylogenetically related, it is proposed that TACC and FGFR have similar roles in cell growth and differentiation. Also, TACC1 contains a conserved C-terminal region as in the Drosophila homolog, D-TACC. It has been shown that D-TACC is necessary for normal spindle function, and the mammalian TACC proteins appears to interact with centrosomes and microtubules in a similar manner.
