SOX2 is required to maintain cancer stem cells in ovarian cancer.

ABSTRACT: Ovarian cancer cells can form spheroids under serum-free suspension culture conditions. The spheroids, which are enriched in cancer stem cells, can result in tumor dissemination and relapse. To identify new targetable molecules in ovarian cancer spheroids, we investigated the differential expression of genes in spheroids compared with that under monolayer culture conditions by qPCR microarray. We identified that SOX2 is overexpressed in spheroids. We then proved that SOX2 expression was increased in successive spheroid generations. Besides, knockdown of SOX2 expression in SKOV3 or HO8910 ovarian cancer spheroid cells decreased spheroid formation, cell proliferation, cell migration, resistance to Cisplatin treatment, tumorigenicity, and the expression of stemness-related genes and epithelia

SUBMITTER: Wen Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5406610 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature