title: Embryonic stem cell markers Sox-2 and OCT4 expression and their correlation with WNT signal pathway in cervical squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Both the expression of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) markers (Sox2, Oct4) and the Wnt signal pathway (β-catenin) are crucial for progression of various human malignancies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinicopathologic significance of Sox2, Oct4 and β-catenin in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) and to study their correlation with the occurrence and prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sox2, Oct4 and β-catenin were assessed using immunohistochemistry in normal cervix tissues (n=28) and invasive cervical squamous cell carcinoma (n=43). Associations of Sox2, Oct4 and β-catenin levels with clinicopathological characteristics and with overall survival were studied using uni- and multivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression levels of Sox2, Oct4 and β-catenin were highly increased in CSCC compared with the normal cervix tissues. The ESCs markers expression (Sox2 and Oct4) correlated significantly with β-catenin expression. High expression of Sox2, but not that of Oct4 or β-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 β-catenin expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings provide evidence that both ESCs biomarkers (Sox2, Oct4) and Wnt signal pathway (β-catenin) are activated in CSCC. Sox2 can be regarded as a novel predictor of poor prognosis for CSCC patients.
authors: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical School 277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an 710061, China.
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Ji
authors: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical School 277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an 710061, China.
authors: Xing
authors: X
authors: Wei
authors: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical School 277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an 710061, China.
authors: Yueling
authors: Y
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000032:analysis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; C494173:POU5F1 protein, human; C527782:SOX2 protein, human; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; D051176:beta Catenin
keywords: Oct4; Sox2; cervical squamous cell carcinoma; immunohistochemistry; prognosis; β-catenin