A Case of Identity: <i>HOX</i> Genes in Normal and Cancer Stem Cells
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the unique ability to self-renew and differentiate into many different cell types. Their function is controlled by core gene networks whose misregulation can result in aberrant stem cell function and defects of regeneration or neoplasia. <i>HOX&l...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2019-04-01
|
| Series: | Cancers |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/11/4/512 |
| _version_ | 1797706635558256640 |
|---|---|
| author | Jessica Smith Ahmad Zyoud Cinzia Allegrucci |
| author_facet | Jessica Smith Ahmad Zyoud Cinzia Allegrucci |
| author_sort | Jessica Smith |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the unique ability to self-renew and differentiate into many different cell types. Their function is controlled by core gene networks whose misregulation can result in aberrant stem cell function and defects of regeneration or neoplasia. <i>HOX</i> genes are master regulators of cell identity and cell fate during embryonic development. They play a crucial role in embryonic stem cell differentiation into specific lineages and their expression is maintained in adult stem cells along differentiation hierarchies. Aberrant <i>HOX</i> gene expression is found in several cancers where they can function as either oncogenes by sustaining cell proliferation or tumor-suppressor genes by controlling cell differentiation. Emerging evidence shows that abnormal expression of <i>HOX</i> genes is involved in the transformation of adult stem cells into cancer stem cells. Cancer stem cells have been identified in most malignancies and proved to be responsible for cancer initiation, recurrence, and metastasis. In this review, we consider the role of <i>HOX</i> genes in normal and cancer stem cells and discuss how the modulation of <i>HOX</i> gene function could lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies that target cancer stem cells to halt tumor initiation, progression, and resistance to treatment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T05:54:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-28454e976ece4833bf73528a48950110 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6694 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T05:54:14Z |
| publishDate | 2019-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancers |
| spelling | doaj.art-28454e976ece4833bf73528a489501102023-09-03T04:43:59ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942019-04-0111451210.3390/cancers11040512cancers11040512A Case of Identity: <i>HOX</i> Genes in Normal and Cancer Stem CellsJessica Smith0Ahmad Zyoud1Cinzia Allegrucci2SVMS, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UKSVMS, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UKSVMS, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UKStem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the unique ability to self-renew and differentiate into many different cell types. Their function is controlled by core gene networks whose misregulation can result in aberrant stem cell function and defects of regeneration or neoplasia. <i>HOX</i> genes are master regulators of cell identity and cell fate during embryonic development. They play a crucial role in embryonic stem cell differentiation into specific lineages and their expression is maintained in adult stem cells along differentiation hierarchies. Aberrant <i>HOX</i> gene expression is found in several cancers where they can function as either oncogenes by sustaining cell proliferation or tumor-suppressor genes by controlling cell differentiation. Emerging evidence shows that abnormal expression of <i>HOX</i> genes is involved in the transformation of adult stem cells into cancer stem cells. Cancer stem cells have been identified in most malignancies and proved to be responsible for cancer initiation, recurrence, and metastasis. In this review, we consider the role of <i>HOX</i> genes in normal and cancer stem cells and discuss how the modulation of <i>HOX</i> gene function could lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies that target cancer stem cells to halt tumor initiation, progression, and resistance to treatment.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/11/4/512<i>HOX</i> genesstem cellscancer stem cellsself-renewaldifferentiationtargeted therapy |
| spellingShingle | Jessica Smith Ahmad Zyoud Cinzia Allegrucci A Case of Identity: <i>HOX</i> Genes in Normal and Cancer Stem Cells Cancers <i>HOX</i> genes stem cells cancer stem cells self-renewal differentiation targeted therapy |
| title | A Case of Identity: <i>HOX</i> Genes in Normal and Cancer Stem Cells |
| title_full | A Case of Identity: <i>HOX</i> Genes in Normal and Cancer Stem Cells |
| title_fullStr | A Case of Identity: <i>HOX</i> Genes in Normal and Cancer Stem Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Case of Identity: <i>HOX</i> Genes in Normal and Cancer Stem Cells |
| title_short | A Case of Identity: <i>HOX</i> Genes in Normal and Cancer Stem Cells |
| title_sort | case of identity i hox i genes in normal and cancer stem cells |
| topic | <i>HOX</i> genes stem cells cancer stem cells self-renewal differentiation targeted therapy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/11/4/512 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jessicasmith acaseofidentityihoxigenesinnormalandcancerstemcells AT ahmadzyoud acaseofidentityihoxigenesinnormalandcancerstemcells AT cinziaallegrucci acaseofidentityihoxigenesinnormalandcancerstemcells AT jessicasmith caseofidentityihoxigenesinnormalandcancerstemcells AT ahmadzyoud caseofidentityihoxigenesinnormalandcancerstemcells AT cinziaallegrucci caseofidentityihoxigenesinnormalandcancerstemcells |