McGonigle Glenda J, Lappin Terence R J, Thompson Alexander
Haematology, Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL.
Front Biosci. 2008 May 1;13:4297-308. doi: 10.2741/3006.
The mammalian HOX gene network encodes a family of proteins which act as master regulators of developmental processes such as embryogenesis and hematopoiesis. The complex arrangement, regulation and co-factor association of HOX has been an area of intense research, particularly in cancer biology, for over a decade. The concept of redeployment of embryonic regulators in the neoplastic arena has received support from many quarters. Observations of altered HOX gene expression in various solid tumours and leukemia appear to support the thesis that 'oncology recapitulates ontogeny' but the identification of critical HOX subsets and their functional role in cancer onset and maintenance requires further investigation. The application of novel techniques and model systems will continue to enhance our understanding of the HOX network in the years to come. Better understanding of the intricacy of the complex as well as identification of functional pathways and direct targets of the encoded proteins will permit harnessing of this family of genes for clinical application.
哺乳动物的HOX基因网络编码一类蛋白质，这些蛋白质充当胚胎发生和造血等发育过程的主要调节因子。十多年来，HOX复杂的排列、调控及辅助因子关联一直是深入研究的领域，尤其是在癌症生物学方面。胚胎调节因子在肿瘤领域重新部署的概念已得到多方支持。在各种实体瘤和白血病中观察到HOX基因表达改变，这似乎支持了“肿瘤学重演个体发生”这一论点，但关键HOX亚群的鉴定及其在癌症发生和维持中的功能作用仍需进一步研究。新技术和模型系统的应用在未来几年将继续增进我们对HOX网络的理解。更好地理解该复合体的复杂性以及鉴定编码蛋白的功能途径和直接靶点，将有助于利用这一基因家族用于临床应用。
