Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41373817›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of molecular sciences2025

SOX18 and SOX30 in NSCLC: The Epigenetic Landscape of Methylation, miRNA Regulation, and Network Crosstalk in Tumor Progression.

Mateusz Olbromski, Aleksandra Piotrowska, Monika Mrozowska, Alicja Kmiecik, Natalia Glatzel-Plucinska, Agnieszka Gomulkiewicz, Aleksandra Stepien, Klaudia Krawczynska, Piotr Blasiak, Marzenna Podhorska-Okolow and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of molecular sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Mateusz OlbromskiDivision of Histology and Embryology, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland.ORCID 0000-0002-1972-1524
Aleksandra PiotrowskaDivision of Histology and Embryology, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland.ORCID 0000-0003-4093-7386
Monika MrozowskaDivision of Histology and Embryology, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland.
Alicja KmiecikDivision of Histology and Embryology, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland.
Natalia Glatzel-PlucinskaDivision of Histology and Embryology, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland.ORCID 0000-0001-6901-1240
Agnieszka GomulkiewiczDivision of Histology and Embryology, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland.ORCID 0000-0003-2256-1055
Aleksandra StepienDivision of Histology and Embryology, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland.
Klaudia KrawczynskaDivision of Histology and Embryology, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland.ORCID 0009-0007-2668-3873
Piotr BlasiakDepartment and Clinic of Thoracic Surgery, Wroclaw Medical University, Grabiszynska 105, 53-439 Wroclaw, Poland.ORCID 0000-0002-5694-0638
Marzenna Podhorska-OkolowDivision of Ultrastructural Research, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland.
Piotr DziegielDivision of Histology and Embryology, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland.

Funding

National Science Centre 2018/31/B/NZ5/02238
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

SOX (SRY-related HMG-box) transcription factors are key regulators of embryogenesis and vascular development, with emerging roles in cancer biology. In non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the contributions of SOX18 and SOX30 remain insufficiently understood, particularly regarding their epigenetic regulation and network interactions with angiogenic and immune-modulatory pathways. We examined 800 NSCLC specimens (400 lung adenocarcinomas, 400 squamous cell carcinomas) using immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and spatial transcriptomics to profile SOX18, SOX30, and related signaling partners (SOX7, SOX17, MEF2C-Myocyte Enhancer Factor 2C, VCAM1-Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule 1, p-STAT3-Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3). Epigenetic regulation was assessed via droplet digital methylation-specific PCR of promoter CpG islands, while functional validation employed adenoviral delivery of hsa-miR-24-3p in NSCLC cell lines and 3D spheroid cultures. SOX18 protein was markedly overexpressed in both NSCLC subtypes, despite reduced transcript levels and consistent promoter hypermethylation, suggesting post-transcriptional regulation. In contrast, SOX30 expression was uniformly downregulated at both mRNA and protein levels, frequently linked to promoter hypermethylation, especially in squamous carcinoma. Spatial transcriptomics revealed SOX18 enrichment at tumor cores and invasive borders, co-localizing with MEF2C, VCAM1, and p-STAT3 in vascular and stromal niches, while SOX30 expression remained low across all tumor regions. Functional assays demonstrated that hsa-miR-24-3p suppressed SOX18 expression and partially modulated SOX30 and MEF2C, reinforcing a miRNA-driven regulatory axis. In summary, SOX18 and SOX30 play divergent roles in NSCLC progression: SOX18 functions as a pro-oncogenic factor driving angiogenesis and tumor-stroma interactions, while SOX30 acts as an epigenetically silenced tumor suppressor. Regulation of SOX18 by miR-24-3p highlights a potential therapeutic vulnerability. These findings underscore the significance of SOX transcription factors as biomarkers and potential targets for novel treatment strategies in NSCLC.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell LungDNA MethylationEpigenesis, GeneticLung NeoplasmsMicroRNAsSOXF Transcription FactorsSOX Transcription FactorsCell Line, TumorDisease ProgressionFemaleGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansMaleMiddle AgedPromoter Regions, GeneticMicroRNAsSOX18 protein, humanSOXF Transcription FactorsSOX Transcription FactorsangiogenesisLUADlung adenocarcinomalung cancerlung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC)MEF2Cnon-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)SOXSOX17SOX18SOX30SOX7STAT3VCAM1

Identifiers

PMID41373817
PMCPMC12691710

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.