Oct4 and Sox2 are overexpressed in human neuroblastoma and inhibited by chemotherapy

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor in childhood and the most frequently diagnosed neoplasm during infancy. Oct4 and Sox2 are essential transcription factors for embryonic development and play key roles in determining the fate of stem cells. In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression of Oct4 and Sox2 in NB tissues, and evaluated their relationship with various clinicopathological parameters. Oct4 and Sox2 expression in 65 samples of NB and paracancerous tissues was examined by real-time PCR. The relationship between Oct4 and Sox2 expression and clinical data was assessed. To detect Oct4 and Sox2 expression at the protein level, western blot analyses and immunohistochemical staining were employed. We found that the expression levels of Oct4 and Sox2 in NB tissues were significantly higher than those in paracancerous tissues (P<0.05). Oct4 and Sox2 expression was significantly correlated to the clinical stage of NB, but not other clinicopathological parameters including patient gender and age, tumor size, location and histological classification. In stage III and IV tumors, Oct4 and Sox2 expression was significantly decreased in the chemotherapy subgroup as compared with that of the non-chemotherapy subgroup (P<0.05). These findings suggest that the expression of Oct4 and Sox2 may correlate with the genesis and progression of NB. In addition, Oct4 and Sox2 expression can be inhibited by chemotherapy.