SOX-2, but not Oct4, is highly expressed in early-stage endometrial adenocarcinoma and is related to tumour grading.
BACKGROUND
Expression of SOX-2 and Oct4 as markers for the identification of cancer stem cells (CSCs) has been revealed in several malignancies. In this study, the co-expression of SOX-2 and Oct4 and their correlation with clinicopathological features of endometrial adenocarcinomas (EACs) was investigated.


METHODS
SOX-2 and Oct4 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in 27 (39.13%) stage IA and in 42 (60.87%) stage IB International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) EACs and related to the clinicopathological features of patients.


RESULTS
The expression of SOX-2 was confirmed in 62/69 tumour specimens compared to Oct4 expression in 46/69 specimens (P = 0.015) and no difference in median staining intensity between SOX-2 and Oct-4 was observed. The highest median SOX-2 expression was found in high-grade (G3) EAC samples compared to moderate-grade (G2) EAC specimens (P = 0.020) and low-grade (G1) specimens (P = 0.008), while no differences in median Oct4 expression in EAC samples according to grading were present. In G3 specimens, significantly higher median SOX-2 expression was noted compared to Oct4 (P = 0.002). SOX-2 and Oct4 co-expression was observed only in G1 EAC (R: 0.51; P = 0.031). Age of EAC diagnosis was positively correlated with SOX-2 expression (b = 0.193; R(2) = 10.83%; P = 0.003) but not to age of menarche, menopause, parity or body mass index.


CONCLUSIONS
There is no need to use SOX-2 expression as a poor outcome predictor in stage I EAC, and SOX-2 expression should be analysed in more advanced stages.
Department of Gynecology and Oncology, Jagiellonian University, Chair of Gynecology and Obstetrics Krakow, Poland.
Kazimierz
K
Pityński
Department of Gynecology and Oncology, Jagiellonian University, Chair of Gynecology and Obstetrics Krakow, Poland.
Tomasz
T
Banas
Department of Gynecology and Oncology, Jagiellonian University, Chair of Gynecology and Obstetrics Krakow, Poland.
Milosz
M
Pietrus
Department of Pathomorphology, Jagiellonian University Krakow, Poland.
Katarzyna
K
Milian-Ciesielska
Department of Gynecology and Oncology, Jagiellonian University, Chair of Gynecology and Obstetrics Krakow, Poland.
Artur
A
Ludwin
Department of Pathomorphology, Jagiellonian University Krakow, Poland.
Krzysztof
K
Okon
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000032:analysis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; C494173:POU5F1 protein, human; C527782:SOX2 protein, human; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors
Cancer stem cells; Oct4; SOX-2; endometrial adenocarcinoma; immunohistochemistry