Background: Centromere protein F (CENP-F) is a microtubule binding protein and component of the kinetochore. It is essential for kinetochore attachment, chromosome alignment, and the spindle checkpoint. CENP-F appears to be important to the association of the NudE-related proteins Ndel1 and Nde1 to the Lis1/dynein motor complex and their role in kinetochore function. CENP-F is a farnesylated protein and the farnesylation of CENP-F appears to be central to its role in mediating kinetochore-microtubule interactions as well as its degradation after mitosis. Recently, CENP-F expression has been correlated with markers of poor outcome in breast cancer.