Homeobox genes and cancer

Homeobox-containing genes are a family of regulatory genes encoding transcr iption factors that primarily play a crucial role during development. Sever al indications suggest their involvement in the control of cell growth and, when dysregulated, in oncogenesis. We will describe the implications, in t umor origin and evolution, of members of the homeobox gene families HOX, EM X, PAX, and MSX as well as of other divergent homeobox genes. We will also propose a model for the function of the HOX gene network in controlling cel l identity to account for the involvement of some HOX genes in both normal development and oncogenesis. (C) 1999 Academic Press.