Embryonic stem cell markers Sox-2 and OCT4 expression and their correlation with WNT signal pathway in cervical squamous cell carcinoma

作者：Ji Jing; Wei Xing; Wang Yueling^*

来源：International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology, 2014, 7(5): 2470-2476.

• Sox2
• Oct4
• beta-catenin
• immunohistochemistry
• cervical squamous cell carcinoma
• prognosis

Background: Both the expression of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) markers (Sox2, Oct4) and the Wnt signal pathway (beta-catenin) are crucial for progression of various human malignancies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinicopathologic significance of Sox2, Oct4 and beta-catenin in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) and to study their correlation with the occurrence and prognosis. Methods: Sox2, Oct4 and beta-catenin were assessed using immunohistochemistry in normal cervix tissues (n = 28) and invasive cervical squamous cell carcinoma (n = 43). Associations of Sox2, Oct4 and beta-catenin levels with clinicopathological characteristics and with overall survival were studied using uni- and multivariate analysis. Results: The expression levels of Sox2, Oct4 and beta-catenin were highly increased in CSCC compared with the normal cervix tissues. The ESCs markers expression (Sox2 and Oct4) correlated significantly with beta-catenin expression. High expression of Sox2, but not that of Oct4 or beta-catenin, was correlated with poorer differentiation (P < 0.05). Furthermore, Sox2 expression was significantly correlated with patients' status of survival in advanced CSCC (P < 0.05), whereas there was no significant finding in Oct4 or beta-catenin expression. Conclusions: These findings provide evidence that both ESCs biomarkers (Sox2, Oct4) and Wnt signal pathway (beta-catenin) are activated in CSCC. Sox2 can be regarded as a novel predictor of poor prognosis for CSCC patients.

• 出版日期2014
• 单位西安交通大学