NYMC Faculty Publications

The HOX Gene Family’s Role as Prognostic and Diagnostic Biomarkers in Hematological and Solid Tumors

Author Type(s)

Student, Faculty

DOI

10.3390/cancers17020262

Journal Title

Cancers

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2025

Department

Otolaryngology

Second Department

Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology

Keywords

biomarker, cancer, homeobox (HOX) genes

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

The HOX gene family encodes for regulatory transcription factors that play a crucial role in embryogenesis and differentiation of adult cells. This highly conserved family of genes consists of thirty-nine genes in humans that are located in four clusters, A–D, on different chromosomes. While early studies on the HOX gene family have been focused on embryonic development and its related disorders, research has shifted to examine aberrant expression of HOX genes and the subsequent implication in cancer prediction and progression. Due to their role of encoding master regulatory transcription factors, the abnormal expression of HOX genes has been shown to affect all stages of tumorigenesis and metastasis. This review highlights the novel role of the HOX family’s clinical relevance as both prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers in hematological and solid tumors.

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