A review.Early response gene (TGF-β early inducible gene, TIEG) product induced by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a new member of the Sp1-like transcription factor family.There are total of three members in the TIEG subfamily: TIEG1, TIEG2 and TIEG3.As a transcription factor,TIEG can regulate the gene expression related to cell growth and differentiation.Recent studies have found that the abnormal expression of TIEG is related to development of a variety of tumors, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer and gastric cancer.Moreover,the latest research found that the expression of TIEG is increased significantly during the course of some anti-cancer drugs.These results show that TIEG is likely to be an important tumor suppressor.The structure and classification,biol. function of TIEG and the relationship between TIEG and tumor are reviewed with many references