论文部分内容阅读
The pathogenesis of many tumors is driven by growth factors that stimulate tumor angiogenesis.Homeobox genes encode transcription factors that are essential for controlling normal embryonic patterning.Many homeobox genes have been reported to be aberrantly expressed in tumors, but the functional significance of this aberrant expression is poorly understood.Our laboratory has found that aberrant expression of the homeobox gene DLX4 in ovarian cancers strongly correlates with advanced disease stage and poor survival, and that DLX4 promotes tumor angiogenesis.The goal of this study was to determine the mechanism by which DLX4 induces expression of the key angiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).DLX4 was found to induce VEGF expression at the protein level in several cancer cell lines.However, this induction of VEGF protein by DLX4 was not accompanied by an increase in VEGF mRNA.Our studies indicate that DLX4 might regulate VEGF expression at the post-transcriptional level.This study provides insight into how homeobox patterning genes might contribute to tumor pathogenesis.Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of DLX4-mediated VEGF expression is essential for developing targeted therapies to reduce the high morbidity and mortality of the disease.