同源盒基因与肿瘤的研究进展

Research Progress of HOX Genes and Human Cancers

同源盒(HOX)基因是一种多基因家族的转录调节基因,通过结合DNA来对目的基因进行激活或抑制,在肿瘤的发生、发展中可对胚胎的发育和分化进行调节,在细胞增殖和分化中发挥重要的作用。在不同种类的肿瘤组织中,HOX基因表达水平也不同,另外,肿瘤的组织学类型及肿瘤发生位置不同,其表达水平也不尽相同。实体肿瘤中HOX基因的表达水平存在的这种差异为研究肿瘤的发生、发展提供可能,同时可以通过改变其异常的基因表达达到抑制肿瘤发生、发展的目的。

Homeobox（HOX） genes are developmental genes and they code for proteins that function as critical master regulatory transcription factors during embryogenesis and activate or inhibit the purpose gene by combining the DNA. They play an important role in the development of tumor through adjusting the development and differentiation of embryo. The expression of HOX genes is not only up or down regulated in most solid tumors but also that the expression of specific HOX genes in cancers tends to differ based on tissue type and tumor site. The differential expression of HOX genes in various solid tumors thus provides a possibility to advance our understanding of cancer development and to develop new therapeutic agents.