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SOX2 is required to maintain cancer stem cells in ovarian cancer

Yiping Wen1, Yaya Hou1, Zaiju Huang1

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.

Cancer Science
|February 7, 2017
PubMed

Insights

SOX2 is overexpressed in ovarian cancer spheroids, which are enriched in cancer stem cells. Targeting SOX2 may offer a therapeutic strategy for ovarian cancer by inhibiting cancer stem cell maintenance.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Stem Cell Research

Background:

  • Ovarian cancer spheroids, enriched in cancer stem cells (CSCs), contribute to tumor dissemination and relapse.
  • Identifying novel therapeutic targets in CSC-enriched ovarian cancer spheroids is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify targetable molecules overexpressed in ovarian cancer spheroids.
  • To investigate the role of SOX2 in maintaining ovarian cancer stemness and its therapeutic potential.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) microarray to analyze gene expression differences between spheroid and monolayer cultures.
  • SOX2 knockdown and overexpression experiments in ovarian cancer cell lines (SKOV3, HO8910).
  • Assessment of spheroid formation, cell proliferation, migration, chemoresistance, and tumorigenicity.
  • Correlation analysis of SOX2 expression with clinical data from epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients.

Main Results:

  • SOX2 was identified as significantly overexpressed in ovarian cancer spheroids compared to monolayer cultures.
  • SOX2 expression increased with successive spheroid generations.
  • SOX2 knockdown reduced spheroid formation, proliferation, migration, chemoresistance, and tumorigenicity, while decreasing stemness and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers.
  • SOX2 overexpression yielded opposite effects.
  • Elevated SOX2 expression correlated with chemoresistance and poor prognosis in EOC patients.

Conclusions:

  • SOX2 is essential for maintaining cancer stem cell properties in ovarian cancer.
  • Targeting SOX2 presents a promising therapeutic avenue for ovarian cancer treatment.
Keywords:
Cancer stem cellSOX2 and spheroidschemotherapy resistanceovarian cancer

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