Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2025

An Orthotopic Bladder Cancer Model for Gene Delivery Studies
Published on: December 1, 2013
Homeobox C6 plays an oncogenic role in bladder cancer
Ding-Jin Lu1, Hai-Rong Wang1, You-Sheng Xu1
1Department of Urology, Beihai People's Hospital, Beihai 536000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China.
Background:
Bladder cancer (BLCA) is a common urological tumor. Homeobox C6 (HOXC6) is an HOX family gene that has an oncogenic effect in various malignancies.
Aim:
To investigate the expression and function of HOXC6 in BLCA.
Methods:
This study employed immunohistochemistry, along with global chip and sequencing data for BLCA, to comprehensively evaluate the protein and mRNA expression of HOXC6 in BLCA. RNA interference technology was employed to knock down the mRNA expression of HOXC6 in BLCA cells, and the impact of reduced HOXC6 expression on cellular function was assessed. Additionally, we explored the potential mechanisms of HOXC6 in BLCA by aggregating HOXC6 chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing data.
Results:
The immunohistochemistry results, sequencing data, and microarray data revealed that both the mRNA and protein expressions of HOXC6 in BLCA were notably greater than the expressions in non-cancerous tissues. Knocking down the expression of HOXC6 considerably limited the function of cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of BLCA cells, elevated cell apoptosis, and triggered the G0/G1 phase blockade. The potential target genes of HOXC6 were enriched in pathways such as chemical carcinogenesis and reactive oxygen species. A notable positive correlation between HOXC6 mRNA expression and its target gene timeless circadian regulator (TIMELESS) was revealed. Notable binding peak signals for HOXC6 were identified in the promoter region of TIMELESS.
Conclusion:
HOXC6 is upregulated in BLCA and may influence the cellular functions of BLCA by regulating the expression of the target gene TIMELESS.
Related Concept Videos
The Retinoblastoma Gene
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Somatic...
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Abnormal Proliferation
Cadherins in Tissue Organization
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...

