title: Sox2: regulation of expression and contribution to brain tumors.
abstract: Tumors of the CNS are composed of a complex mixture of neoplastic cells, in addition to vascular, inflammatory and stromal components. Similar to most other tumors, brain tumors contain a heterogeneous population of cells that are found at different stages of differentiation. The cancer stem cell hypothesis suggests that all tumors are composed of subpopulation of cells with stem-like properties, which are capable of self-renewal, display resistance to therapy and lead to tumor recurrence. One of the most important transcription factors that regulate cancer stem cell properties is SOX2. In this review, we focus on SOX2 and the complex network of signaling molecules and transcription factors that regulate its expression and function in brain tumor initiating cells. We also highlight important findings in the literature about the role of SOX2 in glioblastoma and medulloblastoma, where it has been more extensively studied.
authors.affiliation: McFeeters-Hamilton Center for Neuro-Oncology Research, 101 College St., Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada.
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mansouri
authors.affiliation: McFeeters-Hamilton Center for Neuro-Oncology Research, 101 College St., Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada.
authors.forename: Romina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nejad
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Koç University, Rumelifeneri Yolu, 34450, Sariyer, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Merve
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karabork
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Koç University, Rumelifeneri Yolu, 34450, Sariyer, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Can
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ekinci
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Koç University, Rumelifeneri Yolu, 34450, Sariyer, Istanbul, Turkey.|School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA.
authors.forename: Ihsan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Solaroglu
authors.affiliation: McFeeters-Hamilton Center for Neuro-Oncology Research, 101 College St., Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada.
authors.forename: Kenneth D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Aldape
authors.affiliation: McFeeters-Hamilton Center for Neuro-Oncology Research, 101 College St., Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada.|Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, M5T 2S8, Canada.
authors.forename: Gelareh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zadeh
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C527782:SOX2 protein, human; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors
keywords: SOX2; cancer stem cells; glioblastoma; medulloblastoma; signalling pathways