Hox genes

Hox genes are essential for embryonic development and early post-natal life. They orchestrate where cells need to go in the development of the embryo. Typically they become dormant soon after birth but their re-activation in cancer has been implicated in the development of most solid and liquid cancers.

Potential therapeutic approaches have tried to target individual HOX genes but with there being 39 Hox genes it is difficult to have a targeted approach to all of them.

The activity of HOX proteins is markedly enhanced by binding to specific cofactors. Although HOX proteins can bind to DNA by themselves, this binding is relatively non-specific. Greater specificity is conferred by the binding to two cofactors, one of which is Pre-B-cell Leukemia Homeobox (PBX).

Our innovation focuses on inhibiting the binding of Hox proteins to PBX hereby overcoming the need to target every Hox protein.