Abstract
Abstract only Background: The Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States reports that gliomas account for 78% of malignant brain tumors. (CBTRUS, 2006. Gliomas are currently diagnosed by histopathologic features. We have identified a transcription factor, SOX2, which appears to be a sensitive and specific marker of gliomas. This transcription factor functions to maintain pluripotency in the stem cell of the developing embryo and is expressed during neurogenesis in the adult human CNS. Design: We analyzed 120 glial tumors and 60 non‐glial primary CNS tumors by immunohistochemistry for expression of SOX2 protein. We also evaluated expression array data for SOX2 in 181 separate glioblastomas. Results: SOX2 expression (>75% malignant cells) was found in 105/120 gliomas, including astrocytomas (WHO grades 1–4), oligodendrogliomas (WHO grade 2, 3), ependymomas (WHO grades 1–3) and oligoastrocytomas (WHO grade 2). Of 60 non‐glial primary CNS tumors, 56 were nonreactive (<10% cells) for SOX2, including 40/44 tumors with neuronal features. Our expression array data showed strong SOX2 expression in 156/181 glioblastomas. Conclusion: Our preliminary data suggest that SOX2 is expressed in the great majority of gliomas but only rarely in neuronal tumors. The fact that SOX2 is believed to regulate stem cell self‐renewal suggests that inhibiting its function may have a therapeutic effect in gliomas. *This research was funded by Barrow Neurological Institute