The transcription factor regulation of HOX proteins in cancer hallmarks may involves downstream interactions with EGR3 (early growth response 3), which functions in apoptosis; EGR1 (early growth response 1) and EGR2 (early growth response 2) in TNFA (tumor necrosis factor alpha) signaling; MYC, a proto-oncogene in inflammatory response pathways; BHLHE40 (basic helix-loop-helix family member e40) in hypoxia signaling; CCND1 (cyclin D1) in the G2M checkpoint; HES1 (hes family bHLH transcription factor 1) in Notch regulation; and CTCF in chromatin remodeling. The gene discussed is EGR3; the disease is cancer.