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High nuclear SOX 2 expression is associated with radiotherapy response in small (T1/T2) oral squamous cell carcinoma
Author(s) -
Attramadal Cecilie G.,
Halstensen Trond S.,
Dhakal Hari P.,
Ulekleiv Camilla H.,
Boysen Morten E.,
Nesland Jahn M.,
Bryne Magne
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of oral pathology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0714
pISSN - 0904-2512
DOI - 10.1111/jop.12261
Subject(s) - sox2 , immunohistochemistry , radiation therapy , radiosensitivity , pathology , cancer research , medicine , cancer stem cell , cell , carcinoma , cancer , oncology , biology , transcription factor , gene , biochemistry , genetics
Objective Expression of the stem cell transcription factor SOX 2 is often used to imply stemness and poor prognosis in cancer. However, its role in oral squamous cell carcinoma ( OSCC ) is not fully elucidated. Material and methods Tumour tissues from 62 patients with primary, node negative and non‐metastatic OSCC s were used to evaluate SOX 2 expression by immunohistochemistry. The results were correlated to clinicopathology, treatment and disease recurrences. Results The majority of the OSCC s (88%) expressed SOX 2. Patients with higher nuclear SOX 2 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 OSCC s, as none of the high SOX 2‐expressing tumours reoccurred in contrast to all low SOX 2‐expressing OSCC s. Conclusions High nuclear SOX 2 expression in the invasive front was associated with dramatic longer disease‐free period than low SOX 2‐expressing carcinomas after post‐operative radiotherapy in small OSCC s. The result suggested that high nuclear SOX 2 expression at the invasive front may predict radiosensitivity.