Pan-cancer analysis of SOX2: Prognostic implications and potential as a therapeutic target in immune checkpoint modulation

This study investigates SOX2 genetic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic alterations across over 30 cancer types. Significant downregulation of SOX2 expression was observed in colorectal adenocarcinoma, esophageal carcinoma, rectum adenocarcinoma, stomach adenocarcinoma, and testicular germ cell tumors,...

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Main Authors: Shoukai Yu, Lingmei Qian, Liling Xu, Jun Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:Heliyon
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025005808
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author Shoukai Yu
Lingmei Qian
Liling Xu
Jun Ma
author_facet Shoukai Yu
Lingmei Qian
Liling Xu
Jun Ma
author_sort Shoukai Yu
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates SOX2 genetic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic alterations across over 30 cancer types. Significant downregulation of SOX2 expression was observed in colorectal adenocarcinoma, esophageal carcinoma, rectum adenocarcinoma, stomach adenocarcinoma, and testicular germ cell tumors, whereas its expression was upregulated in cervical squamous cell carcinoma, glioblastoma multiforme, lower grade glioma, lung adenocarcinoma, and lung squamous cell carcinoma.Survival analysis showed that low SOX2 expression correlated with better prognosis in bladder cancer, liver hepatocellular carcinoma, kidney renal clear cell carcinoma, and sarcoma, whereas high SOX2 expression was associated with poor prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma, and lung squamous cell carcinoma, glioblastoma multiforme, lower grade glioma. Although increased immune checkpoint expression is generally linked to poor prognosis, tumors with high SOX2 expression exhibited higher responsiveness to immune checkpoint inhibitors, suggesting that targeting SOX2 may improve immune checkpoint therapy efficacy.The study highlights SOX2 as a key factor in cancer prognosis and immune infiltration across multiple tumor types. Its expression is closely associated with immune-related genes and may serve as both a prognostic biomarker and a therapeutic target. These findings underscore SOX2's potential in regulating immune checkpoints and enhancing cancer immunotherapy.
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spelling doaj-art-97b2d4a03eb844c78d690d72d29e545a2025-01-30T05:14:39ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-02-01113e42200Pan-cancer analysis of SOX2: Prognostic implications and potential as a therapeutic target in immune checkpoint modulationShoukai Yu0Lingmei Qian1Liling Xu2Jun Ma3Corresponding author.; Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital and Clinical Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaHongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital and Clinical Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaHongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital and Clinical Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaCorresponding author.; Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital and Clinical Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaThis study investigates SOX2 genetic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic alterations across over 30 cancer types. Significant downregulation of SOX2 expression was observed in colorectal adenocarcinoma, esophageal carcinoma, rectum adenocarcinoma, stomach adenocarcinoma, and testicular germ cell tumors, whereas its expression was upregulated in cervical squamous cell carcinoma, glioblastoma multiforme, lower grade glioma, lung adenocarcinoma, and lung squamous cell carcinoma.Survival analysis showed that low SOX2 expression correlated with better prognosis in bladder cancer, liver hepatocellular carcinoma, kidney renal clear cell carcinoma, and sarcoma, whereas high SOX2 expression was associated with poor prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma, and lung squamous cell carcinoma, glioblastoma multiforme, lower grade glioma. Although increased immune checkpoint expression is generally linked to poor prognosis, tumors with high SOX2 expression exhibited higher responsiveness to immune checkpoint inhibitors, suggesting that targeting SOX2 may improve immune checkpoint therapy efficacy.The study highlights SOX2 as a key factor in cancer prognosis and immune infiltration across multiple tumor types. Its expression is closely associated with immune-related genes and may serve as both a prognostic biomarker and a therapeutic target. These findings underscore SOX2's potential in regulating immune checkpoints and enhancing cancer immunotherapy.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025005808Pan-cancerSOX2PrognosisMethylationImmunityOncogene expression
spellingShingle Shoukai Yu
Lingmei Qian
Liling Xu
Jun Ma
Pan-cancer analysis of SOX2: Prognostic implications and potential as a therapeutic target in immune checkpoint modulation
Heliyon
Pan-cancer
SOX2
Prognosis
Methylation
Immunity
Oncogene expression
title Pan-cancer analysis of SOX2: Prognostic implications and potential as a therapeutic target in immune checkpoint modulation
title_full Pan-cancer analysis of SOX2: Prognostic implications and potential as a therapeutic target in immune checkpoint modulation
title_fullStr Pan-cancer analysis of SOX2: Prognostic implications and potential as a therapeutic target in immune checkpoint modulation
title_full_unstemmed Pan-cancer analysis of SOX2: Prognostic implications and potential as a therapeutic target in immune checkpoint modulation
title_short Pan-cancer analysis of SOX2: Prognostic implications and potential as a therapeutic target in immune checkpoint modulation
title_sort pan cancer analysis of sox2 prognostic implications and potential as a therapeutic target in immune checkpoint modulation
topic Pan-cancer
SOX2
Prognosis
Methylation
Immunity
Oncogene expression
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025005808
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