HOXB7: An Oncogenic Gene in Breast Cancer
Abstract
Homeobox genes control anterioposterior body axis patterning during development. Although expressed primarily in developing embryos, a growing body of evidence shows that homeobox gene re-expression in adult tissues is associated with tumorigenesis. Since a growing body of evidence showed that HOXB7 may be involved in ovarian, skin and breast cancer, we wanted to investigate its expression levels in breast carcinomas and evaluate its oncogenic potential in this study. A number of HOXB7-interacting proteins in breast cancer cells were identified and binding to HOXB7 was confirmed in vivo. Interestingly, all of the HOXB7-associated proteins identified had well characterized roles in the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway for DNA double strand break (DSB) repair as well as a larger role in maintenance of genomic integrity. Cell survival experiments demonstrated that breast cancer cells stably transfected with HOXB7 survive better after induction of DNA DSB with fewer chromosomal abnormalities following exposure to gamma radiation. HOXB7 was overexpressed in more than 50% of primary tumors. Expression in normal mammary epithelial cells conferred the ability to form colonies in agar, and tumors in nude mice. Thus it is possible that HOXB7 is a novel marker for identifying aggressive tumors.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA459744
Entities
People
- Ethel Rubin
- Hexin Chen
Organizations
- Johns Hopkins University