Significance of HOXD transcription factors family in progression, migration and angiogenesis of cancer

• Published in: Critical reviews in oncology/hematology 2022-11, Vol.179, p.103809-103809, Article 103809
• Main Authors: Wang, Lumin, Qiao, Chenyang, Cao, Li, Cai, Shuang, Ma, Xiaoping, Song, Xinqiu, Jiang, Qiuyu, Huang, Chen, Wang, Jinhai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: HOXD; Molecular markers; Signaling pathway; Therapeutic target; Transcription factors; Tumorigenesis
• ISSN: 1040-8428; 1879-0461
• DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2022.103809

The transcription factors (TFs) of the HOX family play significant roles during early embryonic development and cellular processes. They also play a key role in tumorigenesis as tumor oncogenes or suppressors. Furthermore, TFs of the HOXD geFIne cluster affect proliferation, migration, and invasion of tumors. Consequently, dysregulated activity of HOXD TFs has been linked to clinicopathological characteristics of cancer. HOXD TFs are regulated by non-coding RNAs and methylation of DNA on promoter and enhancer regions. In addition, HOXD genes modulate the biological function of cancer cells via the MEK and AKT signaling pathways, thus, making HOXD TFs, a suitable molecular marker for cancer prognosis and therapy. In this review, we summarized the roles of HOXD TFs in different cancers and highlighted its potential as a diagnostic and therapeutic target. •In tumors, The dysregulation of HOXDs could be correlated with clinical and pathological indicators.•HOXDs are regulated by numerous Non-coding RNAs and methylation of DNA via the MEK/ERK, AKT, and SMAD signaling pathway.•HOXD genes are characterized as oncogene or tumor suppressors to modulate the biological function of cancer cells.•HOXD genes are able to be a crucial target for the diagnosis and therapy of tumors.