SOX11: friend or foe in tumor prevention and carcinogenesis?

Abstract

Sex-determining region Y-related high-mobility-group box transcription factor 11 (SOX11) is an essential member of the SOX transcription factors and has been highlighted as an important regulator in embryogenesis. SOX11 studies have only recently shifted focus from its role in embryogenesis and development to its function in disease. In particular, the role of SOX11 in carcinogenesis has become of major interest in the field. SOX11 expression is elevated in a wide variety of tumors. In many cancers, dysfunctional expression of SOX11 has been correlated with increased cancer cell survival, inhibited cell differentiation, and tumor progression through the induction of metastasis and angiogenesis. Nevertheless, in a limited number of malignancies, SOX11 has also been identified to function as a tumor suppressor. Herein, we review the correlation between the expression of SOX11 and tumor behaviors. We also summarize the mechanisms underlying the regulation of SOX11 expression and activity in pathological conditions. In particular, we focus on the pathological processes of cancer targeted by SOX11 and discuss whether SOX11 is protective or detrimental during tumor progression. Moreover, SOX11 is highlighted as a clinical biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of various human cancer. The information reviewed here should assist in future experimental designs and emphasize the potential of SOX11 as a therapeutic target for cancer.

Functional Specialization of Human Salivary Glands and Origins of Proteins Intrinsic to Human Saliva

“…A group of TFs, including FOXD3 , CBX2 , and SOX11 , was found to be exclusively expressed in fetal glands, indicative of roles in human salivary gland development. This latter group of TFs is of high interest to those studying organ bioengineering, wound repair, and cancer, because multiple markers present in fetal tissue are also expressed in various cancers (e.g., SOX11 ; Yang et al, 2019 ) and are required for regeneration and de novo generation of tissues ( Miao et al, 2019 ; Sock et al, 2004 ), yet their exact functions remained unclear due to the absence of information on fetal organs. We also found several TFs that were far less abundant at the fetal stage than at the adult stage, suggestive of adult-specific functions.…”

Ouabain and Digoxin Activate the Proteasome and the Degradation of the ERα in Cells Modeling Primary and Metastatic Breast Cancer

“…Moreover, IPA analysis shows that OU and Digo could reduce the activity of many transcription factors in which overexpression is required for sustained proliferation and cancer progression (e.g., NRF2, SOX11, TBX2) [ 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 ]. This implies that these CGs could generally impact the transcriptional networks required for sustained cancer progression.…”

Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beer Modulate Plasma and Macrophage microRNAs Differently in a Pilot Intervention in Humans with Cardiovascular Risk

“…Moreover, only one gene was the target of all these microRNAs: SOX11 ( SRY-Box 11 ). SOX11 is a transcription factor involved in the regulation of embryonic development and in determining cell fate and has been related to tumorigenesis [ 56 ]. TMOD3 was targeted by miR-155-5p, miR-320a-3p and miR-328-3p.…”