Abstract:

Objective To investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the occurrence and metastasis of colorectal cancer by analyzing the HOXB7 gene over-expression profile. Methods The enriched transcription factor binding site (TFBS) was analyzed by comparing the different genes of HOXB7 over-expressed colon cancer cell strain and blank control group. Intersection genes of enriched TFBS and differential genes were obtained to get differential TFBS and co-expression genes of which were analyzed to clarify the co-expression features. The interactive regulatory network of correlated proteins was analyzed to determine the potential cell signal pathways in which these genes participated. Results It was assumed that the transcription factor NKX3-1 might regulate some up-regulated genes because its combining site was highly enriched in transcript region of HOXB7 over-expressed genes and it was an up-regulated differential gene. The NKX3-1 gene had the co-expression relationship with other 14 genes within TFBS and the molecular signal network controlled by which mainly participated in signal pathways of tumor related, Wnt, MAPK, intercellular connection, and extracellular matrix connection that were closely related to tumor occurrence and metastasis. Conclusion HOXB7 gene might accelerate the occurrence and metastasis of colon cancer by regulating the NKX3-1 gene.

Key words: HOXB7, NKX3-1, colorectal cancer, transcription factor, bioinformatics