HOX family transcription factors belong to a highly conserved subgroup of the homeobox superfamily that determines cellular fates in embryonic morphogenesis and the maintenance of adult tissue architecture. HOX family transcription factors play key roles in numerous cellular processes including cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, motility, and angiogenesis. As tumor promoters or suppressors HOX family members have been reported to be closely related with a variety of cancers. They closely regulate tumor initiation and growth, invasion and metastasis, angiogenesis, anti-cancer drug resistance and stem cell origin. Here, we firstly described the pivotal roles of HOX transcription factors in tumorigenesis. Then, we summarized the main signaling pathways regulated by HOX transcription factors, including Wnt/β-catenin, transforming growth factor β, mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt, and nuclear factor-κB signalings. Finally, we outlined the important post-translational modifications of HOX transcription factors and their regulation in cancers. Future research directions on the HOX transcription factors are also discussed.

中文翻译：

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HOX家族转录因子：癌症中相关的信号通路和翻译后修饰。

HOX家族转录因子属于同源盒超家族的高度保守的亚组，其决定了胚胎形态发生中的细胞命运并维持了成年组织的结构。HOX家族转录因子在许多细胞过程中起关键作用，包括细胞生长，分化，凋亡，运动性和血管生成。据报道，HOX家族成员作为肿瘤的启动子或抑制剂与多种癌症密切相关。它们紧密调节肿瘤的发生和生长，侵袭和转移，血管生成，抗癌药耐药性和干细胞来源。在这里，我们首先描述了HOX转录因子在肿瘤发生中的关键作用。然后，我们总结了HOX转录因子（包括Wnt /β-catenin，转化生长因子β，丝裂原激活的蛋白激酶，磷酸肌醇3-激酶/ Akt和核因子-κB信号传导。最后，我们概述了HOX转录因子的重要翻译后修饰及其在癌症中的调控。还讨论了HOX转录因子的未来研究方向。