HOXA5: A crucial transcriptional factor in cancer and a potential therapeutic target.

Abstract

HOX genes occupy a significant role in embryogenesis, hematopoiesis, and oncogenesis. HOXA5, a member of the A cluster of HOX genes, is essential for establishing the skeleton and normal organogenesis. As previously reported, aberrant HOXA5 expression contributes to anomalies and dysfunction of various organs, as well as affecting proliferation, differentiation, invasion, apoptosis, and other biological processes of tumor cells. Different cancers showed both downregulated and upregulated HOXA5 expression. The most common strategy for controlling HOXA5 downregulated expression may be CpG island hypermethylation. Additionally, current research demonstrated the regulatory network of HOXA5 and its connection with cancer stem cell progression and the immune microenvironment. Epigenetic modulators and upstream regulators, such as DNMTi and retinoic acid, may be beneficial for anti-tumor effects targeting HOXA5. Here, we summarize current knowledge about the HOXA5 gene, its role in various cancers, and its potential therapeutic value.

• Authors: Fan Fan, Haoyang Mo, Hao Zhang, Ziyu Dai, Zeyu Wang, Chunrun Qu, Fangkun Liu, Liyang Zhang, Peng Luo, Jian Zhang, Zaoqu Liu, Quan Cheng, Fengqin Ding
• Journal: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (Biomed Pharmacother) Vol. 155 Pg. 113800 (Nov 2022) ISSN: 1950-6007 [Electronic] France
• PMID: 36271576 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Transcription Factors
• Homeodomain Proteins
• Tretinoin

Topics

• Genes, Homeobox
• Transcription Factors (genetics)
• Homeodomain Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• CpG Islands
• Cell Differentiation
• Tretinoin
• Neoplasms (drug therapy, genetics)