The homeobox transcription factor HOXC9 induces growth suppression and differentiation in neuroblastoma cell lines

Neuroblastoma is a paediatric tumour originating from the developing sympathetic nervous system. Homeobox genes, a family of evolutionary conserved transcription factors, play a crucial role in embryonic differentiation and development. Oligonucleotide-microarray analysis of 250 neuroblastoma specimens demonstrated that HOXC9 downregulation is associated with unfavourable prognostic markers such as disseminated stage 4, age >18 months at diagnosis and MYCN amplification. To investigate the molecular function of HOXC9, we established a tetracycline-inducible system of HOXC9 expression in neuroblastoma cell lines.…