The up-regulated genes included the following: (1) genes involved in cancer initiation, promotion, migration, and invasion (HMOX1, HOXB5, HOXB6, HOXB7, HOXB8, and HOXB9) (22, 23); (2) genes inducing angiogenesis and immune suppression (HIF3A) (24); and (3) genes correlating with chemotherapy resistance (CD24) (25). Here, HOXB9 is linked to cancer.