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Updated: May 20, 2026

Performing Data Mining And Integrative Analysis Of Biomarker in Breast Cancer Using Multiple Publicly Accessible Databases
Published on: May 17, 2019
SOX2 autoantibodies as noninvasive serum biomarker for breast carcinoma
Yu Sun1, Rui Zhang, Minjie Wang
1Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Background:
A clear association has been established between antibodies to the transcription factor sex-determining region Y (SRY)-box 2 (SOX2) and small cell lung cancer. In light of the pathologic role of SOX2 and its aberrant expression in breast cancer, we measured serum SOX2 autoantibodies (SOX2-Abs) in breast cancer patients.
Methods:
The presence of SOX2-Abs was determined by an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in sera from 282 patients with breast cancer, 78 patients with benign breast disease, and 194 healthy women.
Results:
SOX2-Abs were more prevalent in patients with breast cancer (18.4%) compared with healthy women (2.6%, P < 0.0001), and patients with benign breast disease (6.4%, P = 0.011). The concentrations of circulating SOX2-Abs were found to discriminate between breast cancer patients and healthy controls (P < 0.001) and between breast cancer patients and those with benign breast disease (P < 0.001). In addition, measurement of SOX2-Abs was more effective than assays of serum tissue polypeptide-specific antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen (CA) 125, and CA 15-3 in distinguishing between malignant and benign breast disease. In breast cancer patients, the prevalence of SOX2-Abs was associated with a higher tumor grade (P = 0.021) and positive nodal status (P = 0.021).
Conclusion:
The presence of SOX2-Abs in breast cancer may be of clinical value.
Impact:
This study provides the first evidence for the presence of circulating SOX2-Abs in breast cancer and shows their potential clinical application.

