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

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 2022;155():113800

PMID: 36271576

Free Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

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.

Address: Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China; Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, China.; Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.; Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, China.; Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.; Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.; Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, China; Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China. Electronic address: [email protected].; Department of Clinical Laboratory, People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Yinchuan, China. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113800