HOXB13

Prostate cancer

At least two mutations in the HOXB13 gene have been associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer; the disease may also be more aggressive in affected men with a HOXB13 mutation. These mutations are present in every cell of the body and can be passed from one generation to the next. As a result, they are associated with cancers that cluster in families. However, not everyone who inherits a mutation in the HOXB13 gene will ultimately develop prostate cancer. Other genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors also contribute to a person's cancer risk.

The HOXB13 gene mutations that are associated with prostate cancer alter the MEIS interacting domains of the HOXB13 protein. Researchers suggest that the changes may impair the ability of these domains to regulate the HOXB13 protein's interactions with DNA. As a result, the protein's tumor suppressor function is impaired, resulting in the uncontrolled cell proliferation that can lead to prostate cancer.