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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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HOXB7
homeobox B7
Chromosome 17 · 17q21.32
NCBI Gene: 3217Ensembl: ENSG00000260027.5HGNC: HGNC:5118UniProt: P09629
115PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Transcription Factor
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
DNA-binding transcription activator activity, RNA polymerase II-specificRNA polymerase II cis-regulatory region sequence-specific DNA bindingpositive regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase IInuclear bodyAbnormality of the skeletal systemneoplasmbreast cancerhepatocellular carcinoma
✦AI Summary

HOXB7 is a sequence-specific transcription factor that functions as a master regulatory gene in cancer progression and metastasis. As a homeodomain protein, HOXB7 orchestrates various target molecules and activates multiple oncogenic pathways 1. The protein demonstrates significant clinical relevance as a prognostic biomarker across multiple solid tumor types. Meta-analyses reveal that high HOXB7 expression consistently correlates with poor overall survival (HR=1.98), advanced TNM staging, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis in solid malignancies 2. In digestive system cancers specifically, HOXB7 overexpression predicts poor prognosis with hazard ratios around 2.0 and associates with tumor invasion and metastatic spread 3. Mechanistically, HOXB7 promotes cancer cell proliferation and invasion, as demonstrated in lung adenocarcinoma where silencing HOXB7 inhibited both growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo 4. The protein also regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition pathways, with HOXB7 serving as an upstream transcription factor for genes like STN1 that promote metastasis 5. Additionally, HOXB7 dysregulation occurs in hematological disorders, where it affects mesenchymal stem cell function in myelodysplastic syndrome transformation 6. These findings establish HOXB7 as both a valuable prognostic marker and potential therapeutic target across various cancer types.

Sources cited
1
HOXB7 is a master regulatory gene that orchestrates target molecules and activates oncogenic pathways
PMID: 27197229
2
Meta-analysis showing high HOXB7 expression correlates with poor survival and metastasis across solid tumors
PMID: 35060516
3
HOXB7 overexpression predicts poor prognosis in digestive system cancers with HR around 2.0
PMID: 28749115
4
HOXB7 silencing inhibits cancer cell growth and metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma
PMID: 22911672
5
HOXB7 serves as upstream transcription factor regulating STN1 and promoting metastasis
PMID: 40841373
6
HOXB7 dysregulation affects mesenchymal stem cell function in myelodysplastic syndrome
PMID: 38254070
Disease Associationsⓘ20
Abnormality of the skeletal systemOpen Targets
0.11Weak
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.11Weak
breast cancerOpen Targets
0.11Weak
hepatocellular carcinomaOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
head and neck squamous cell carcinomaOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
esophageal squamous cell carcinomaOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
gastric cancerOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
blepharitisOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
prostate diseaseOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
gliomaOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
osteosarcomaOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
esophageal cancerOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomaOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
lung adenocarcinomaOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
melanomaOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
thoracomelic dysplasiaOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
thoracic dysostosis, isolatedOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
hypertensionOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
thoracolaryngopelvic dysplasiaOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
central nervous system cancerOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
XRCC6Protein interaction97%HOXA5Protein interaction96%HOXA7Protein interaction96%HOXB4Protein interaction96%HOXB5Protein interaction96%PRKDCProtein interaction95%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Brain
100%
Lung
17%
Ovary
4%
Liver
4%
Heart
1%
Bone Marrow
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
HOXB7XRCC6HOXA5HOXA7HOXB4HOXB5PRKDC
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
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AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt P09629
View on AlphaFold ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
1.21LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.77 [0.51–1.21]
RankingsWhere HOXB7 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #4,121of 20,598
    Most Researched115 · top quartile
  • #12,688of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.21
Genes detectedHOXB7
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
The Widening Sphere of Influence of HOXB7 in Solid Tumors.
PMID: 27197229
Cancer Res · 2016
1.00
2
Deregulated HOXB7 expression predicts poor prognosis of patients with malignancies of digestive system.
PMID: 28749115
Minerva Chir · 2019
0.90
3
Role of HOXB7 in regulation of progression and metastasis of human lung adenocarcinoma.
PMID: 22911672
Mol Carcinog · 2014
0.80
4
HOXB7-S3 inhibits the proliferation and invasion of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.
PMID: 26135503
Mol Med Rep · 2015
0.70
5
High expression of HOXB7 is an unfavorable prognostic factor for solid malignancies: A meta-analysis.
PMID: 35060516
Medicine (Baltimore) · 2022
0.60