Abstract: Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG- 1) was initially identified as a HIV- 1- or tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)-in-ducible elevated transcript in primary human fetal astrocytes by a rapid subtraction hybridization. The full-length AEG-1 cD-NA consists of3611-bp, and is located at 8q22with a calculated molecular mass of 64-kDa and an isoelectric point of 9.33. AEG-1 was detected at the perinuclear region and in endoplasmic reticulum-like structures. AEG-1 is a downstream target molecule of H-ras and c-myc, mediating the tumor-promoting effects. Moreover, studies over the past several years have confirmed that AEG-1-related carcinogenesis involves the activation of the PI 3K-Akt and NF-κ B pathways. Since i ts original cloning in 2002, it is now evident that AEG- 1 is a key contributor to the carcinogenic process in diverse organs. AEG-1 was found highly expressed in various types of human cancers, including neuroblastoma, breast cancer, hepatocellular carcino ma and prostate cancer. High AEG-1 expression negatively correlates with patients' survival. Overexpression and inhibi -tion studies both in in vitro and in in vivo models reveal the importance of AEG- 1 in regulating multiple physiologically and pathologically relevant processes including proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and gene expression. Although pertinent roles of AEG-1 in the carcinogenic process are established, its potential function as well as mechanisim of action require further clarification. The present review critically evaluates what is currently known about AEG- 1 in cancer and provides new perspectives relative to this intriguing molecule that may provide a rational target for intervention.