PITX1 (Paired-like homeodomain 1) is a bicoid-related homeobox transcription factor that plays critical roles in embryonic development, particularly in patterning the hindlimb and regulating pituitary organogenesis. It is also known as "Backfoot" due to its involvement in establishing left-right asymmetry during limb formation. Beyond development, PITX1 has been implicated in various cancers, where it can function as either a tumor suppressor or an oncogene depending on the cellular context, and its dysregulation is associated with tumor progression and metastasis.