HOXB7 acts as an oncogenic biomarker in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract Background The homeobox gene Homeobox B7 (HOXB7) is overexpressed across a range of cancers and promotes tumorigenesis through varying effects on proliferation, survival, migration invasion. However, its expression pattern oncogenic role HOXB7 in head neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remain largely unexplored. Here, we aimed to explore the HOXB7, clinical significance as well functional roles HNSCC. Methods mRNA HNSCC was determined by data mining analyses from TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus) datasets. protein abundance measured immunohistochemistry 119 primary samples associations between clinicopathological parameters patient survival were evaluated. pro-tumorigenic further delineated vitro loss-of-function assay. And xenograft tumor model established nude mice assess growth. Connectivity Map (CMap) analysis performed identify bioactive small molecules which might be potential inhibitors for HOXB7. Results Bioinformatics showed that significantly 8 independent datasets databases. markedly upregulated compared normal counterparts overexpression associated with high pathological grade, advanced stage, cervical node metastasis ( P = 0.0195, 0.0152, 0.0300) reduced overall disease-free 0.0014, 0.0007). Univariate multivariate Cox regression revealed an prognostic factor patients’ survival. Moreover, knockdown inhibited invasion induced apoptosis cells, resulted compromised tumour growth vivo. Furthermore, CMap (Connectivity map) has identified three molecule (NU-1025, thiamine, vinburnine) targeted therapy Conclusions Our findings associates aggressiveness unfavourable prognosis serving novel biomarker involved development progression oncogene, thereby therapeutic target