Sex-determining Region Y-related (SRY) High-mobility Group Box 4 (SOX4) Immunoexpression in Colorectal Cancer as an Unappreciated Parameter for More Individual Approach in Cancer Disease – A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Abstract Background Colorectal cancer is one of the most important problems that medicine has to face nowadays. Despite the development of new diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies in oncology, it still takes the leading position regarding cancer related deaths, which proves the presence of undiscovered part of its biology. Therefore, is justified to search for new biomarkers to determine better colorectal cancer biology. Sexdetermining region Y-related (SRY) high-mobility group box 4 (SOX4) is currently highly investigated protein which expression was identified in many pathological processes, including malignancies with the highest mortality rates and which seems to be a promising marker related to cancer progression. Objectives The aim of the study was to evaluate SOX4 expression level in colorectal cancer cells and search for its potential relation to the established prognostic parameters for more individual approach in cancer disease. Material and methods Immunohistochemical evaluation of the SOX4 protein expression in colorectal cancer cells supported by statistical analysis of the relation to tumour stage, grade, and presence of lymph node metastases, as well as chosen histoclinical features. Results Obtain results showed for the first time complex expression of SOX4 in colorectal cancer. There were revealed differences of SOX4 immunoexpression regarding tumour grade, lymph node status, and tumour ulceration, as well as potential relation between SOX4 expression and patients’ age and sex and grade 1 histological malignancy of the tumour. Conclusions Obtained results support the role of the SOX4 in colorectal cancer biology and for the first time indicate the relation with the established prognostic factors: tumour grade and lymph node status. The findings revealed in presented studies alight SOX4 expression as a promising parameter for colorectal cancer more individual approach with prospective clinical impact.