SOX2 is a cancer-specific regulator of tumour initiating potential in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Abstract

Although the principles that balance stem cell self-renewal and differentiation in normal tissue homeostasis are beginning to emerge, it is still unclear whether cancer cells with tumour initiating potential are similarly governed, or whether they have acquired distinct mechanisms to sustain self-renewal and long-term tumour growth. Here we show that the transcription factor Sox2, which is not expressed in normal skin epithelium and is dispensable for epidermal homeostasis, marks tumour initiating cells (TICs) in cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). We demonstrate that Sox2 is required for SCC growth in mouse and human, where it enhances Nrp1/Vegf signalling to promote the expansion of TICs along the tumour-stroma interface. Our findings suggest that distinct transcriptional programmes govern self-renewal and long-term growth of TICs and normal skin epithelial stem and progenitor cells. These programmes present promising diagnostic markers and targets for cancer-specific therapies.

• Authors: Jasmin M Siegle, Alice Basin, Ana Sastre-Perona, Yoshiya Yonekubo, Jessie Brown, Rachel Sennett, Michael Rendl, Aristotelis Tsirigos, John A Carucci, Markus Schober
• Journal: Nature communications (Nat Commun) Vol. 5 Pg. 4511 (Jul 31 2014) ISSN: 2041-1723 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25077433 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• RNA, Small Interfering
• SOX2 protein, human
• SOXB1 Transcription Factors
• VEGFA protein, human
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• Neuropilin-1

Topics

• Animals
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Epithelial Cells (metabolism, pathology)
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• HEK293 Cells
• Humans
• Mice
• Mice, Nude
• Neoplasm Transplantation
• Neoplastic Stem Cells (metabolism, pathology)
• Neuropilin-1 (antagonists & inhibitors, genetics, metabolism)
• Organ Specificity
• Primary Cell Culture
• RNA, Small Interfering (genetics, metabolism)
• SOXB1 Transcription Factors (antagonists & inhibitors, genetics, metabolism)
• Signal Transduction
• Skin (metabolism, pathology)
• Skin Neoplasms (genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Stem Cells (cytology, metabolism)
• Stromal Cells (metabolism, pathology)
• Transcription, Genetic
• Tumor Microenvironment (genetics)
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (genetics, metabolism)