To identify aberrant NKL homeobox gene activities in HL patients we analyzed the expression levels of those six subclass members which constitute the hematopoietic NKL-code, comprising HHEX, HLX, MSX1, NKX2-3, NKX3-1 and NKX6-3 [25]. Here, NKX6-3 is linked to Hodgkins lymphoma.