title: The transcription factor Sox11 is a prognostic factor for improved recurrence-free survival in epithelial ovarian cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Current prognostic molecular markers for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) are insufficient. The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of Sox11 in EOC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using an in silico transcriptomic screen, Sox11 was identified as a potential EOC biomarker. Sox11 protein expression was evaluated using immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 76 EOC cases, which were analysed using automated algorithms to develop a quantitative scoring model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sox11 mRNA expression was upregulated in EOC compared to normal tissues. Automated analysis of Sox11 in the EOC cohort revealed high expression of Sox11, in 40% of tumours, who had an improved recurrence-free survival (RFS) (p=0.002). Multivariate analysis confirmed that Sox11 was an independent predictor of improved RFS after controlling for stage and grade.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that Sox11 is a new prognostic marker in EOC. Loss of Sox11 is associated with a decreased RFS and a more aggressive phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Donal J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ek
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Drew
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.forename: Grainne
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Flannelly
authors.forename: Darran P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kilpinen
authors.forename: Olli-Pekka
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Kallioniemi
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jirstrom
authors.forename: Colm
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Herlihy
authors.forename: Carl A K
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Borrebaeck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D055751:SOXC Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C097473:SOX11 protein, human; D055751:SOXC Transcription Factors