[5][6] Xanthine dehydrogenase belongs to the group of molybdenum-containing hydroxylases involved in the oxidative metabolism of purines.

This enzyme belongs to the family of oxidoreductases, to be specific, those acting on CH or CH2 groups with NAD+ or NADP+ as acceptor.

Defects in xanthine dehydrogenase cause xanthinuria, may contribute to adult respiratory stress syndrome, and may potentiate influenza infection through an oxygen metabolite-dependent mechanism.

[5] It has been shown that patients with lung adenocarcinoma tumors which have high levels of XDH gene expression have lower survivals.

[7][8] Addiction to XDH protein has been used to target NSCLC tumors and cell lines in a precision oncology manner.