title: [Expression of transcription factor SOX4 and its clinical significance in female lung cancer patients in Xuanwei area, Yunnan Province].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of transcription factor SOX4 in lung cancer tissues of female patients in Xuanwei area, Yunnan Province, and explore its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of the female patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Real-time PCR was applied on lung cancer specimens and their corresponding normal lung tissues from 96 female cases of Xuanwei area to assess the expression of SOX4 mRNA. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to investigate the SOX4 protein expression, and further to elucidate its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression level of SOX4 mRNA in the cancer tissues (2.53 ± 1.65) was significantly higher than that of matched normal tissues (1.43 ± 1.14, P = 0.003). Immunohistochemical staining showed that there were 53.1% (51/96) positive expression of SOX4 protein in the cancer tissue and only 26.0% (25/96) in matched normal tissue (P < 0.001). The expression of SOX4 protein had a significant correlation with clinical stage, lymph node metastasis and differentiation of tumor (P < 0.05). The survival analysis by Kaplan-Meier method showed that patients with positive expression of SOX4 protein, lymph node metastasis and advanced tumor stage had a significantly shorter median survival time (P < 0.05). Cox regression survival analysis showed that pathological grade was a significant independent factor affecting prognosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expressions of SOX4 mRNA and protein are significantly up-regulated in Xuanwei female lung cancer patients. Patients with positive SOX4 expression have a shorter median survival time. SOX4 protein expression level combined with pathological grade can be used as a prognostic indicator of female lung cancer patients in Xuanwei area, Yunnan Province.
authors.affiliation: Yunnan Tumor Research Institute, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650118, China.
authors.forename: Yong-chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xi-cai
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Li-juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Xiao-qun
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Guang-qiang
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yun-chao
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D055751:SOXC Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015996:Survival Rate; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C083431:SOX4 protein, human; D055751:SOXC Transcription Factors