HOXB7 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: In this study, a synthetic peptide known as HXR9, which was demonstrated to disrupt HOXB7 function by blocking HOX/PBX dimer formation and induce cancer cell apoptosis in ESCC,28 was utilized to inhibit HOXB7 and to determine if it had a synergistic effect to improve cisplatin chemosensitivity in ESCC cells.