Programmed cell death protein 4 (PDCD4) acts as a tumor suppressor in neuroendocrine tumor cells.

PDCD4 is a new tumor suppressor gene. In the current study, we show that overexpression of PDCD4 in carcinoid cells results in inhibition of cell proliferation. This is most likely caused by a PDCD4-induced downregulation of carbonic anhydrase type II which catalyzes the production of bicarbonate, a fundamental substrate for many cellular pathways.