Homeobox genes and cancer: new OCTaves for an old tune.

In this issue of Cancer Cell, Gidekel et al. demonstrate that Oct-4, a member of the POU class of homeobox genes, is a critical player in the genesis of testicular germ cell tumors. This study provides further evidence that deregulated expression of homeobox genes, which occurs in many solid tumors, is functionally relevant for carcinogenesis and highlights unique features that distinguish homeobox genes from other cancer-promoting genes.