De Vita G, Barba P, Odartchenko N, Givel J C, Freschi G, Bucciarelli G, Magli M C, Boncinelli E, Cillo C
International Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, Naples, Italy.
Eur J Cancer. 1993;29A(6):887-93. doi: 10.1016/s0959-8049(05)80432-0.
Homeobox genes are a network of genes encoding nuclear proteins functioning as transcriptional regulators. Human and murine homeobox genes of the HOX family are organised in four clusters on different chromosomes. Gene order within each cluster is highly conserved, perhaps in direct relation to their expression. Homeobox genes have recently been involved in normal development and oncogenesis. We have analysed HOX gene expression in normal human colon and in primary and metastatic colorectal carcinomas. The majority of HOX genes are active in normal adult colon and their overall expression pattern is characteristic of this organ. Furthermore, the expression of some HOX genes is identical in normal and neoplastic colon indicating that these genes may exert an organ-specific function. In contrast, other HOX genes exhibit altered expression in primary colon cancers and their hepatic metastases which may suggest an association with colon cancer progression.
同源框基因是一个编码核蛋白的基因网络，这些核蛋白作为转录调节因子发挥作用。HOX家族的人类和小鼠同源框基因在不同染色体上的四个簇中排列。每个簇内的基因顺序高度保守，这可能与它们的表达直接相关。同源框基因最近被发现与正常发育和肿瘤发生有关。我们分析了HOX基因在正常人类结肠以及原发性和转移性结直肠癌中的表达。大多数HOX基因在正常成人结肠中是活跃的，其整体表达模式是该器官的特征。此外，一些HOX基因在正常结肠和肿瘤性结肠中的表达相同，这表明这些基因可能发挥器官特异性功能。相比之下，其他HOX基因在原发性结肠癌及其肝转移灶中表现出表达改变，这可能表明与结肠癌进展有关。
