Genetic and Clinical Characterization of HOXB2 in Glioma

Background: Glioma is a highly aggressive and heterogeneous cancer with poor survival rates. Homeobox (HOX) genes are transcription factors that play pivotal roles in many aspects of cellular physiology, embryonic development, and tissue homeostasis. Mutations in HOX genes can lead to increased cancer predisposition. Abnormal expression of HOXB2 may result in the development and progression of tumors. However, its prognostic value and mechanism of dysregulation remain unclear. Methods: The present study included 1001 glioma patients. The correlations between the expression of HOXB2 and subgroups of glioma were investigated by t-test analyses. The prognostic value of HOXB2 was explored by Kaplan-Meier analysis as well as univariate and multivariate Cox analyses. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment were employed to detect the biological function of HOXB2 in glioma. CCK-8 and transwell assays were performed to determine the role of HOXB2 in cell proliferation and invasion. Results: HOXB2 was positively correlated with tumor grade and enriched in patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 wild-type and age >41 years. HOXB2 was identified as an independent prognostic biomarker in glioma patients. HOXB2 was associated with cell invasion and promoted the proliferation of glioma cells in vitro. Conclusion: HOXB2 is an independent prognostic factor and contributes to tumor invasion in glioma patients.