Home > Stains & CD markers > SOX10
Stains & CD markers
SOX10

Pamela Wirth, Ph.D.

Last author update: 27 February 2024
Last staff update: 27 February 2024

Copyright: 2014-2024, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.

PubMed Search: SOX10

Pamela Wirth, Ph.D.
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Essential features | Terminology | Pathophysiology | Clinical features | Interpretation | Uses by pathologists | Prognostic factors | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) images | Positive staining - normal | Positive staining - disease | Negative staining | Molecular / cytogenetics description | Sample pathology report | Board review style question #1 | Board review style answer #1 | Board review style question #2 | Board review style answer #2
Cite this page: Wirth P. SOX10. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/stainssox10.html. Accessed December 21st, 2024.
Definition / general
  • SRY related HMG box 10 (SOX10) protein
  • Transcription factor known to be crucial in the specification of the neural crest and maintenance of Schwann cells and melanocytes
  • Expressed in nuclei of melanocytes, peripheral nerves, breast myoepithelial cells, luminal cells of sweat and salivary glands (Am J Surg Pathol 2015;39:826)
Essential features
  • Positive marker for most melanomas (Am J Surg Pathol 2015;39:826)
  • Also expressed in benign nevi and benign tumors of Schwann cell lineage
  • May be more sensitive than S100 for identifying metastatic melanoma (Cancer Cytopathol 2018;126:179)
  • Encoded by SOX10 gene located on chromosome 22q13.1
  • May be a useful marker for primary and metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) (Mod Pathol 2021;34:62)
Terminology
  • SRY box 10
  • SRY (sex determining region Y) box 10
  • SRY related HMG box gene 10
Pathophysiology
  • Encoded by the SOX10 gene on the long arm of chromosome 22 at position 22q13.1
  • Important in the development of cells including neural crest cells, glial cells, neurons, osteoblasts, smooth muscle cells and melanocytes (J Otol 2022;17:247)
  • Mutations in the SOX10 gene are associated with pigment abnormalities, disorders of gastrointestinal motility, loss of smell and severe hearing loss
Clinical features
  • Mutations in SOX10 gene cause Waardenburg syndrome type 4 (auditory pigmentary abnormalities and Hirschsprung disease) (Gene 2014;538:36)
    • Mutations within SOX10 enhancers may contribute to isolated Hirschsprung disease (Hum Mutat 2014;35:303)
  • Mutations cause Kallman syndrome (anosmia and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism) with deafness (Am J Hum Genet 2013;92:707)
Interpretation
  • Strong, distinct nuclear stain
Uses by pathologists
Prognostic factors
Microscopic (histologic) description
  • Normal finding: nuclear expression in some normal cells like melanocytes, peripheral nerves, breast myoepithelial cells, luminal cells of sweat and salivary glands (see Positive staining - normal)
  • Nuclear expression in malignant melanoma and soft tissue tumors
  • Any other pattern could represent abnormality or background staining and should be further assessed (some cytoplasmic staining has been noted with certain polyclonal antibodies) (Nowotwory J Oncol 2019;69:58)
Microscopic (histologic) images

Contributed by Pamela Wirth, Ph.D. (source: University of Toronto)
Nerve sheath tumor

Nerve sheath tumor

Nerve sheath tumor, SOX10   Nerve sheath tumor, SOX10

Nerve sheath tumor, SOX10

Desmoplastic melanoma

Desmoplastic melanoma

Desmoplastic melanoma, SOX10   Desmoplastic melanoma, SOX10

Desmoplastic melanoma, SOX10


Soft tissue granular cell tumor

Soft tissue granular cell tumor

Soft tissue granular cell tumor, SOX10   Soft tissue granular cell tumor, SOX10

Soft tissue granular cell tumor, SOX10

Positive staining - normal
  • Epidermal melanocytes, peripheral nerves, Schwann cells, neurofibromas and myoepithelial cells of the salivary and mammary glands (Am J Surg Pathol 2015;39:826)
  • In major salivary glands, expressed in nuclei of acini and both luminal and abluminal cells of intercalated ducts but not in other sites (Mod Pathol 2013;26:1041)
Positive staining - disease
  • Melanoma: almost all spindle cell melanomas and most desmoplastic melanomas (Actas Dermosifiliogr 2017;108:17)
  • SOX10 has demonstrated positive staining in spiradenomas, cylindromas, hidradenoma papilliferum, syringocystadenoma papilliferum and apocrine adenomas (J Cutan Pathol 2017;44:544)
  • SOX10+ carcinomas include acinic cell, adenoid cystic, epithelial myoepithelial, myoepithelial; also pleomorphic adenomas, including the pleomorphic adenoma component of carcinoma (Br J Cancer 2013;109:444)
  • Soft tissue tumors including Schwannoma, neurofibroma, granular cell tumor, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (Am J Surg Pathol 2015;39:826)
  • Usually positive nuclear staining in breast basal-like / unclassified triple negative / metaplastic carcinoma (Hum Pathol 2013;44:959)
  • Specific (93%) but not very sensitive (67%) for malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor over synovial sarcoma (Mod Pathol 2014;27:55)
    • Must interpret with caution in intraneural tumors
Negative staining
Molecular / cytogenetics description
  • Mutations in SOX10 gene can lead to genetic disorders such as Waardenburg syndrome types II and IV and Hirschsprung disease (Am J Hum Genet 2007;81:1169)
    • SOX10 gene deletions (15%) found in Waardenburg syndrome type II in one study of 30 patients
    • PCR is more commonly used to screen for SOX10 gene deletions
    • Some Waardenburg syndrome type IV cases involve multiple mutations and are not easily characterized by SOX10 mutations alone
Sample pathology report
  • Skin biopsy, scalp:
    • Spindle cell melanoma (see comment)
    • Comment: Microscopic examination of the biopsy revealed atypical spindle cells along with areas of pleomorphism and high mitotic activity. Diagnosis of spindle cell melanoma was confirmed with an immunostaining panel that included S100 (positive), SOX10 (positive), AE1 / AE3 (negative) and p63 (negative) to confirm the diagnosis of spindle cell melanoma versus spindle cell squamous cell carcinoma.
Board review style question #1
SOX10 can be used to help diagnose which of the following conditions?

  1. Benign nevi versus melanoma
  2. HER2 positive breast tumors
  3. Soft tissue tumors of neural crest origin
  4. Squamous cell carcinomas of the skin
Board review style answer #1
C. Soft tissue tumors of neural crest origin. SOX10 is commonly expressed in peripheral nerves and melanomas with nerve cell involvement including desmoplastic melanoma. Answer A is incorrect because both benign nevi and melanomas can express SOX10, making it an insensitive marker for distinguishing between benign neoplasms and malignant melanomas. Answer B is incorrect because SOX10 is typically negative or expressed in very low levels in HER2 positive breast tissue. Answer D is incorrect because SOX10 expression is minimal to absent in squamous cell carcinoma.

Comment Here

Reference: SOX10
Board review style question #2
Desmoplastic melanoma   Desmoplastic melanoma, SOX10


A biopsy from an 86 year old man reveals a lesion with atypical spindle cell melanocytes infiltrating the dermis. IHC stain results were positive for S100 and SOX10 (shown) and negative for HMB45 and MelanA. What is the likely diagnosis?

  1. Cutaneous melanoma
  2. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans
  3. Desmoplastic melanoma
  4. Spindle cell squamous cell carcinoma
Board review style answer #2
C. Desmoplastic melanoma. The absence of HMB45 and MelanA staining is characteristic of desmoplastic melanomas in addition to positive staining for SOX10 and S100. Answer A is incorrect because melanomas are typically HMB45 positive. Answer D is incorrect as spindle cell squamous cell carcinomas are typically negative for S100 and HMB45. Answer B is incorrect because dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is typically negative for SOX10, S100 and HMB45.

Comment Here

Reference: SOX10
Back to top
Home > Stains & CD markers > SOX10
Image 01 Image 02