HOXB7 (E3H4S) Rabbit mAb #65130

Homeobox (HOX) proteins are homeodomain transcription factors (1). They bind to sequence-specific DNA motifs (C/G)TAATTG and function as master transcriptional regulators, controlling the coordinated expression of genes involved in embryogenesis and tissue differentiation (1,2). HOXB7 belongs to the B group of HOX proteins and plays a dominant role in facilitating tumor progression in many solid tumors. Overexpression of HOXB7 is found in many types of tumors, including melanoma, ovarian, GI-tract, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), lung, gliomas, and breast cancers. Aberrant high expression of HOXB7 is associated with poor prognosis (3). The protein promotes tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, and invasion, as well as drug resistance through regulation of multiple signaling pathways, such as MAPK, VEGF, FGF, TGF-β, and EGFR/Her2 (4-8). HOXB7 binding to a DNA promoter requires its interaction with a cofactor protein such as PBX2 or CBP for transcriptional activation of downstream targets (9,10). Disruption of the HOXB7/PBX complex formation by antagonist peptide HXR9 can inhibit HOXB7 function and is considered as a potential therapeutic value (11).