AUTHOR=Chen Guodong , Chen Yan , Xu Ruiquan , Zhang Guoxi , Zou Xiaofeng , Wu Gengqing 

TITLE=Impact of SOX2 function and regulation on therapy resistance in bladder cancer

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2022.1020675

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2022.1020675

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=<p>Bladder cancer (BC) is a malignant disease with high rates of recurrence and mortality. It is mainly classified as non-muscle-invasive BC and muscle-invasive BC (MIBC). Often, MIBC is chemoresistant, which, according to cancer stem cells (CSCs) theory, is linked to the presence of bladder cancer stem cells (BCSCs). Sex-determining region Y- (SRY) Box transcription factor 2 (<italic>SOX2</italic>), which is a molecular marker of BCSCs, is aberrantly over-expressed in chemoresistant BC cell lines. It is one of the standalone prognostic factors for BC, and it has an inherently significant function in the emergence and progression of the disease. This review first summarizes the role of SRY-related high-mobility group protein Box (SOX) family genes in BC, focusing on the <italic>SOX2</italic> and its significance in BC. Second, it discusses the mechanisms relevant to the regulation of <italic>SOX2</italic>. Finally, it summarizes the signaling pathways related to <italic>SOX2</italic> in BC, suggests current issues to be addressed, and proposes potential directions for future research to provide new insights for the treatment of BC.</p>