Yuanbo Cui1,2, Ming Yan3, Chunyan Zhang4, Jinhui Xue5, Quanwu Zhang5, Shanshan Ma6, Fangxia Guan7, Wei Cao8. 1. Department of Translational Medicine Center, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated To Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450007, China. cuiyuanbo18@126.com. 2. School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China. cuiyuanbo18@126.com. 3. Basic Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China. 4. Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated To Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450007, China. 5. Department of Pathology, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated To Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450007, China. 6. School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China. 7. School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China. fxguan@126.com. 8. Department of Translational Medicine Center, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated To Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450007, China. caoweiyu@hotmail.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) is one of the most common lethal cancers in the human urogenital system. As members of the Homeobox (HOX) family, Homeobox-A (HOXA) cluster genes have been reported to be involved in the development of many cancer types. However, the expression and clinical significance of HOXA genes in KIRC remain largely unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the mRNA expression and prognostic values of HOXA genes in KIRC using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) analysis databases online. Colony formation assay, flow cytometry and Western blot were used to detect cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, and protein level of the indicated gene. RESULTS: We found that the HOXA genes were differentially expressed in KIRC tissues when compared with normal tissues. The expression of HOXA4 and HOXA13 were significantly up-regulated, while HOXA7 and HOXA11 were down-regulated in KIRC. High mRNA levels of HOXA2, HOXA3 and HOXA13, and low level of HOXA7 predicted poor overall survival (OS) of KIRC patients. High mRNA level of HOXA13 further indicated a poor disease-free survival (DFS) of KIRC patients. Functionally, knockdown of HOXA13 significantly suppressed cell proliferation of KIRC in vitro, increased the protein level of p53 and decreased the protein level of cyclin D1 in KIRC cells. Over-expression of HOXA13 had the opposite effects on KIRC cells. CONCLUSION: Collectively, our findings suggest that HOXA13 functions as a novel oncogene in KIRC and may be a potential biomarker for this malignancy.
OBJECTIVES:Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) is one of the most common lethal cancers in the human urogenital system. As members of the Homeobox (HOX) family, Homeobox-A (HOXA) cluster genes have been reported to be involved in the development of many cancer types. However, the expression and clinical significance of HOXA genes in KIRC remain largely unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the mRNA expression and prognostic values of HOXA genes in KIRC using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) analysis databases online. Colony formation assay, flow cytometry and Western blot were used to detect cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, and protein level of the indicated gene. RESULTS: We found that the HOXA genes were differentially expressed in KIRC tissues when compared with normal tissues. The expression of HOXA4 and HOXA13 were significantly up-regulated, while HOXA7 and HOXA11 were down-regulated in KIRC. High mRNA levels of HOXA2, HOXA3 and HOXA13, and low level of HOXA7 predicted poor overall survival (OS) of KIRC patients. High mRNA level of HOXA13 further indicated a poor disease-free survival (DFS) of KIRC patients. Functionally, knockdown of HOXA13 significantly suppressed cell proliferation of KIRC in vitro, increased the protein level of p53 and decreased the protein level of cyclin D1 in KIRC cells. Over-expression of HOXA13 had the opposite effects on KIRC cells. CONCLUSION: Collectively, our findings suggest that HOXA13 functions as a novel oncogene in KIRC and may be a potential biomarker for this malignancy.