Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Transcription factor Sox2 remains the pluripotency of stem cell, participates in self-renew of cancer stem cell and plays important role during the initiation and development of various cancers. This study intends to investigate the expression and significance of Sox2 and Sox2 autoantibodies (Sox2-Ab) in tissue and serum of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Expression of Sox2 gene and protein was tested in 58 cases of NSCLC, 16 patients with other tumors and 20 cases of normal lung tissue specimens by quantitative PCR and immunohistochemical assay, respectively. Serum Sox2-Ab level was detected in 30 cases of NSCLC patients and 30 healthy controls by ELISA method. Clinical and pathological data from patients were collected and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Expression levels of Sox2 mRNA and protein were higher in patient with NSCLC than other groups, with statistically significant differences (P<0.01), respectively. Meanwhile, Sox2 mRNA expression increased in NSCLC patients associated with histological type and tumor size. No significant differences in Sox2-Ab serum levels were found between NSCLC patients and normal subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Sox2 in NSCLC have a higher expression, which is closely related to histological type and tumor size. Sox2 might use as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for lung cancer.