Researchers have identified a protein called HOXD13 as a key driver of melanoma. The study shows that HOXD13 helps cancer grow in two major ways.
First, it promotes tumor growth by triggering angiogenesis, the process of forming new blood vessels. These vessels supply the tumor with oxygen and nutrients, allowing it to expand more quickly.
Second, HOXD13 helps tumors evade the immune system. It increases levels of adenosine, a chemical that creates a barrier preventing cytotoxic T cells from entering the tumor and attacking cancer cells.
Researchers found that patients with high HOXD13 levels tend to have weaker immune responses and fewer T cells. Since this protein is also elevated in other cancers such as glioblastoma and sarcoma, the findings suggest that a combined treatment approach—targeting both blood vessel formation and adenosine signaling—could become an effective strategy across multiple cancer types.