S100A8 and cancer: Encoded by genes that map to human epithelial differentiation complex on chromosomal locus 1q21, S100A8 and S100A9 are members of the S100 family of proteins, which contain two canonical EF-hand calcium-binding motifs involved in calcium-dependent control of cell differentiation, cell cycle progression and growth [4] and are implicated in cancer development and other inflammatory diseases.