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

Jasmin M. Siegle, Alice Basin, Ana Sastre-Perona, Yoshiya Yonekubo, Jessie Brown, Rachel Sennett, Michael Rendl, Aristotelis Tsirigos, John A. Carucci and Markus Schober ()
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Jasmin M. Siegle: The Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Center for Stem Cell Biology, Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center
Alice Basin: The Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Center for Stem Cell Biology, Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center
Ana Sastre-Perona: The Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Center for Stem Cell Biology, Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center
Yoshiya Yonekubo: The Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Center for Stem Cell Biology, Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center
Jessie Brown: The Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Center for Stem Cell Biology, Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center
Rachel Sennett: Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Michael Rendl: Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Aristotelis Tsirigos: Center for Health Informatics and Bioinformatics, New York University Langone Medical Center
John A. Carucci: The Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Center for Stem Cell Biology, Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center
Markus Schober: The Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Center for Stem Cell Biology, Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5511

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