HOXB4 Promotes Bladder Cancer Progression in Part Through Transcriptional Activation of Smoothened.

ABSTRACT: Homeobox B4 (HOXB4) is a homeobox transcription factor implicated in development and oncogenesis; however, its role in bladder cancer (BCa) remains insufficiently defined. Bladder cancer is among the most common malignancies worldwide, and its high rates of recurrence and progression highlight the need to identify new molecular drivers and therapeutic targets. In this study, we show that HOXB4 is overexpressed in BCa and that elevated levels of HOXB4 are associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes. Functionally, HOXB4 knockdown markedly suppressed cellular proliferation, migration, invasion, and experimental lung colonization in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, transcriptomic analyses and validation assays, including quantitative PCR, immunoblotting, RNA-sequencing, luciferase reporter, a

SUBMITTER: Jin Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12780671 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature