NDRG1 is a member of the N-myc downstream-regulated gene family with various roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, DNA repair, cell adhesion, vesicle trafficking, apoptosis, development, and stress response. It is considered to be a tumor suppressor, inhibiting proliferation and enhancing apoptosis through the regulation of Wnt-signaling. N-myc and c-Myc transcriptionally repress NDRG1. It is expressed in neurons and nerve fibers during neurological development. NDRG1 is also upregulated in mast cells during maturation, and it is believed to accelerate degranulation and promote exocytosis. Involvement in cancer progression is considered pleiotropic, as it has been suggested to have oncogenic functions in some cancer types. For example, expression of NDRG1 is correlated with good prognosis in glioma, and pancreatic, prostate, and breast cancer, but it is associated with poor prognosis in esophageal and hepatocellular carcinoma. Separately, mutations in NDRG1 cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4D, a demyelinating syndrome.