HOXC13 is a homeobox transcription factor that primarily regulates hair follicle differentiation and keratin gene expression. The protein binds directly to hair keratin gene promoters through a specific DNA binding consensus sequence TT(A/T)ATNPuPu, controlling the expression of structural proteins essential for normal hair morphology 1. HOXC13 is immunologically detected in the lower hair-forming compartment of human hair follicles, where it activates hair keratin promoters during early trichocyte differentiation 1. Beyond hair biology, HOXC13 demonstrates oncogenic potential in multiple contexts. The gene forms pathogenic fusion proteins with NUP98 in acute myeloid leukemia, where the NUP98/HOXC13 chimera contributes to leukemogenesis 2. In viral infections, HOXC13 facilitates human papillomavirus genome maintenance by binding to viral regulatory regions and upregulating E1 helicase gene expression, thereby supporting persistent HPV infection 3. Recent studies also implicate HOXC13 in breast cancer immunotherapy resistance, where it appears to regulate the cGAS-STING pathway and is controlled by miR-26a-5p 4. Disease associations include ectodermal dysplasias affecting hair and nail development, consistent with its primary role in epithelial differentiation. The gene's involvement in both developmental processes and cancer highlights its dual significance in normal tissue morphogenesis and pathological conditions.