HOXB5 and colorectal carcinoma: To determine whether CXCR4 and ITGB3 are required for HOXB5-mediated CRC invasion and metastasis, we applied CXCR4 and ITGB3 knockdown in Caco-2 cells expressing exogenous HOXB5 (Caco-2-HOXB5) and overexpression of CXCR4 and ITGB3 in HOXB5-depleted SW620 cells (SW620-shHOXB5) (Figure 2H).