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Updated: Jun 14, 2026
Integration of Bioinformatics Approaches and Experimental Validations to Understand the Role of Notch Signaling in Ovarian Cancer
Published on: January 12, 2020
Expression pattern of the class I homeobox genes in ovarian carcinoma
Jin Hwa Hong1, Jae Kwan Lee, Joong Jean Park
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Objective:
Although some sporadic reports reveal the link between the homeobox (HOX) genes and ovarian carcinoma, there is no comprehensive analysis of the expression pattern of the class I homeobox genes in ovarian carcinoma that determines the candidate genes involved in ovarian carcinogenesis.
Methods:
The different patterns of expression of 36 HOX genes were analyzed, including 4 ovarian cancer cell lines and 4 normal ovarian tissues. Using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantification analysis, the specific gene that showed a significantly higher expression in ovarian cancer cell lines than in normal ovaries was selected, and western blot analysis was performed adding 7 ovarian cancer tissue specimens. Finally, immunohistochemical and immunocytochemical analyses were performed to compare the pattern of expression of the specific HOX gene between ovarian cancer tissue and normal ovaries.
Results:
Among 36 genes, 11 genes had a different level of mRNA expression between the cancer cell lines and the normal ovarian tissues. Of the 11 genes, only HOXB4 had a significantly higher level of expression in ovarian cancer cell lines than in normal ovaries (p=0.029). Based on western blot, immunohistochemical, and immunocytochemical analyses, HOXB4 was expressed exclusively in the ovarian cancer cell lines or cancer tissue specimens, but not in the normal ovaries.
Conclusion:
We suggest HOXB4 may be a novel candidate gene involved in ovarian carcinogenesis.
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