Clinical Correlation of Transcription Factor SOX3 in Cancer - Unveiling Its Role in Tumorigenesis

Sep 21, 2026

Upload by Maeve

Members of the SOX family of transcription factors are essential for embryonic development and cell fate determination. This review analyzes SOX3 in cancer, highlighting links between aberrant SOX3 expression and multiple malignancies, including osteosarcoma, breast, esophageal, endometrial, ovarian, gastric, hepatocellular carcinoma, glioblastoma, and leukemia. Dysregulated SOX3 influences apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, invasion, migration, cell-cycle control, and proliferation. SOX3 also shows distinct expression patterns tied to clinicopathological features across tumor types, supporting further therapeutic research.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages22

Reading Time55 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

SOX transcription factors and SOX3 biology

Clinical correlation and cancer outcomes

Apoptosis, EMT, invasion, migration

Cell cycle and proliferation

Review Clinical Correlation of Transcription Factor SOX3 in Cancer: Unveiling Its Role in Tumorigenesis Helen Lima Del Puerto 1,*, Ana Paula G. S. Miranda 1, Dinah Qutob 2, Enio Ferreira 1, Felipe H. S. Silva 1, Bruna M. Lima 1, Barbara A. Carvalho 1, Bruna Roque-Souza 1, Eduardo Gutseit 1, Diego C. Castro 1, Emanuele T. Pozzolini 1, Nayara O. Duarte 1, Thacyana B. G. Lopes 1, Daiana Y. O. Taborda 1, Stella M. Quirino 1, Ahmed Elgerbi 3, John S. Choy 3 and Adam Underwood 4 Citation: Del Puerto, H.L.; Miranda, A.P.G.S.; Qutob, D.; Ferreira, E.; Silva, F.H.S.; Lima, B.M.; Carvalho, B.A.; Roque-Souza, B.; Gutseit, E.; Castro, D.C.; et al. Clinical Correlation of Transcription Factor SOX3 in Cancer: Unveiling Its Role in Tumorigenesis. Genes 2024, 15, 777. [https://doi.org/](https://doi.org/)[ ](https://doi.org/)[10.3390/genes15060777](10.3390/genes15060777) Received: 15 April 2024 Revised: 4 June 2024 Accepted: 7 June 2024 Published: 13 June 2024 Copyright: © 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ([https://](https://)[ ](https://)[creativecommons.org/licenses/by/](creativecommons.org/licenses/by/)[ ](creativecommons.org/licenses/by/)[4.0/](4.0/)) . 1 Department of General Pathology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil; [eniofvet@hotmail.com](eniofvet@hotmail.com) 2 Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University at Stark, North Canton, OH 44720, USA; [dqutob@kent.edu](dqutob@kent.edu) 3 Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA 4 Division of Mathematics and Sciences, Walsh University, North Canton, OH 44720, USA; [aunderwood@walsh.edu](aunderwood@walsh.edu) * [Correspondence: helendelpuerto@ufmg.br](Correspondence: helendelpuerto@ufmg.br); Tel.: +55-31-3409-2878; Fax: +55-31-3409-2879 Abstract: Members of the SOX (SRY-related HMG box) family of transcription factors are crucial for embryonic development and cell fate determination. This review investigates the role of SOX3 in cancer, as aberrations in SOX3 expression have been implicated in several cancers, including osteosarcoma, breast, esophageal, endometrial, ovarian, gastric, hepatocellular carcinomas, glioblastoma, and leukemia. These dysregulations modulate key cancer outcomes such as apoptosis, epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, migration, cell cycle, and proliferation, contributing to cancer development. SOX3 exhibits varied expression patterns correlated with clinicopathological parameters in diverse tumor types. This review aims to elucidate the nuanced role of SOX3 in tumorigenesis, correlating its expression with clinical and pathological characteristics in cancer patients and cellular modelsBy providing a comprehensive exploration of SOX3 involvement in cancer, this review underscores the multifaceted role of SOX3 across distinct tumor types. The complexity uncovered in SOX3 function emphasizes the need for further research to unravel its full potential in cancer therapeutics. Keywords: SOX3; cancer; apoptosis; epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT); invasion; migration; cell cycle; proliferation 1. Introduction Transcription factors (TFs) are pivotal in shaping cellular identities, directing cell differentiation, and orchestrating complex temporal-spatial gene expression profiles during embryonic development [1–3]. The discovery of SRY (sex-determining region Y), the founder of the SOX (SRY-related HMG box) protein family of TFs, marked a significant milestone in understanding TF biology in the context of sex determination [4]. The high-mobility group (HMG) box domain within SRY is highly conserved and shared with all 20 SOX protein members and has gained prominence as a versatile DNA-binding motif [5–7]. The HMG box DNA-binding domain is composed of three alpha helixes that

FAQs

What is SOX3’s relevance in cancer according to this review?

SOX3 is examined as a transcription factor whose aberrant expression is implicated across multiple cancer types. Its dysregulation is linked to major tumor behaviors and outcomes.

Which cancer processes are associated with altered SOX3 expression?

Altered SOX3 dysregulation is connected with apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, migration, cell-cycle control, and proliferation.

Does SOX3 expression correlate with clinicopathological parameters?

Yes. The review reports varied SOX3 expression patterns that correlate with clinicopathological parameters across diverse tumor types.

Sep 21, 2026

Upload by Maeve