Table of Contents
Definition / general | Clinical features | Uses by pathologists | Microscopic (histologic) images | Positive staining - disease | Negative stainingCite this page: Pernick N. SOX2. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/stainsSOX2.html. Accessed December 4th, 2024.
Definition / general
- Transcription factor at 3q26.33, essential to maintain self-renewal of undifferentiated embryonic stem cells
- Also known as SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 2 is a transcription factor that is essential to maintain self-renewal of undifferentiated embryonic stem cells
- Marker of embryonic stem cell pluripotency that is associated with aggressive tumor behavior
Clinical features
- Gene is amplified and protein overexpressed variably in squamous cell carcinomas of various sites (Hum Pathol 2011;42:1078, Hum Pathol 2009;40:1768)
Uses by pathologists
- Distinguish seminomatous (SOX2-) and nonseminomatous (SOX2+) germ cell tumors (Am J Surg Pathol 2007;31:836)
- Poor prognostic factor for stage I lung adenocarcinoma (Am J Surg Pathol 2010;34:1193)
Microscopic (histologic) images
Positive staining - disease
- CNS tumors: glial tumors, supratentorial PNET, but not medulloblastoma or pineoblastoma (Am J Surg Pathol 2008;32:103)
- Embryonal carcinoma of mediastinum (Am J Surg Pathol 2010;34:697) and testis (Am J Clin Pathol 2009;131:731)
- Variable: malignant rhabdoid tumor (Am J Surg Pathol 2011;35:1463), teratoma
Negative staining
- Choriocarcinoma (testis), seminoma (mediastinum, testis), yolk sac tumors (mediastinum, testis)
- CNS germinoma (Am J Surg Pathol 2006;30:1613), lymphoma