Objective: In this study, expression of cancer stem cells (CSCs)-related factor-Sex-determining region of Y chromosome-related high-mobility-group box 2 (SOX2) and anti-apoptotic specific factor- Survivin in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) was detected to provide important clues for effective SACC prevention and treatment by combining clinical pathological parameters analysis.
Methods: Paraffin and fresh specimens were collected from SACC patients who underwent surgery at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department of Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital. The experimental group was designed as SACC tissue, and the control group normal paracancerous normal gland tissue. (1) SOX2 and Survivin expression were detected using immunohistochemistry and analyzed by comnining clinical pathological parameter analysis. (2) mRNA and protein expression levels of SOX2 and Survivin were detected using RT-PCR, Western Blot.
Results: 1. Immunohistochemistry: (1) SOX2 was mainly expressed on the nucleus. The SOX2 positive rate was 28.57% in clinical stage I-II, and 76.92% in stage III-IV. (2) Survivin was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm. The Survivin positive rate was 61.90% in clinical stage I-II, and 76.92% in stage III-IV. (3) There was a clear correlation between SOX2 and Survivin. 2. RT-PCR and Western Blot: The mRNA and protein expression levels of SOX2 and Survivin were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: (1) The mRNA and protein expression level of SOX2 and Survivin was significantly higher in SACC tissues than in paracancerous normal salivary gland tissues, indicating that both of the two are tissue-specific and may become SACC oncogenes. (2) SOX2 and Survivin are significantly correlated in expression, which may coorinatively participate in SACC incidence and development.
Keywords: Cancer stem cells; SOX2; Salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma; Survivin.
Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Ltd.