title: High nuclear SOX2 expression is associated with radiotherapy response in small (T1/T2) oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Expression of the stem cell transcription factor SOX2 is often used to imply stemness and poor prognosis in cancer. However, its role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is not fully elucidated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tumour tissues from 62 patients with primary, node negative and non-metastatic OSCCs were used to evaluate SOX2 expression by immunohistochemistry. The results were correlated to clinicopathology, treatment and disease recurrences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of the OSCCs (88%) expressed SOX2. Patients with higher nuclear SOX2 staining intensity in the invasive front compared to the adjacent normal epithelium, had a remarkable longer disease-free period if they received adjuvant post-operative radiotherapy (P = 0.001). This was in particular evident for highly differentiated OSCCs, as none of the high SOX2-expressing tumours reoccurred in contrast to all low SOX2-expressing OSCCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High nuclear SOX2 expression in the invasive front was associated with dramatic longer disease-free period than low SOX2-expressing carcinomas after post-operative radiotherapy in small OSCCs. The result suggested that high nuclear SOX2 expression at the invasive front may predict radiosensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Cecilie G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Attramadal
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Trond S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Halstensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Oslo University Hospital, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Hari P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Dhakal
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Camilla H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ulekleiv
authors.affiliation: Department for Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Morten E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Boysen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Oslo University Hospital, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Jahn M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nesland
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Magne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bryne
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011379:Prognosis; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C527782:SOX2 protein, human; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors
keywords: SOX2; immunohistochemistry; oral squamous cell carcinoma; prognosis; radiotherapy; treatment