Biological role and clinical implications of homeobox genes in serous epithelial ovarian cancer

Katherine R Miller; Jai N Patel; Mahrukh K Ganapathi; David L Tait; Ram N Ganapathi

doi:10.1016/j.ygyno.2016.03.004

Biological role and clinical implications of homeobox genes in serous epithelial ovarian cancer

Gynecol Oncol. 2016 Jun;141(3):608-615. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2016.03.004. Epub 2016 Mar 21.

Authors

Katherine R Miller¹, Jai N Patel¹, Mahrukh K Ganapathi¹, David L Tait², Ram N Ganapathi³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cancer Pharmacology, Levine Cancer Institute, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, NC, USA.
² Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Levine Cancer Institute, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, NC, USA. Electronic address: david.tait@carolinashealthcare.org.
³ Department of Cancer Pharmacology, Levine Cancer Institute, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, NC, USA. Electronic address: ram.ganapathi@carolinashealthcare.org.

PMID: 26957480
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2016.03.004

Abstract

Homeobox (HOX) genes are a family of transcription factors that are essential regulators of development. HOX genes play important roles in normal reproductive physiology, as well as in the development and progression of serous carcinomas, the predominant and most aggressive subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). This review discusses aberrant HOX gene expression in serous EOC and its impact on tumor development and progression. Further identification of HOX target genes may facilitate the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to improve the prognosis of patients with serous EOC.

Keywords: Cancer; Gene; HOX; Ovarian; Protein; Serous.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial
Female
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
Genes, Homeobox*
Humans
Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / genetics*
Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / pathology
Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics*
Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology