SOX2 is a pleiotropic nuclear transcription factor with major roles in stem cell biology and in development. Over the last 10 years SOX2 has also been implicated as a lineage-specific oncogene, notably in squamous carcinomas but also neurological tumours, particularly glioblastoma. Squamous carcinomas (SQCs) comprise a common group of malignancies for which there are no targeted therapeutic interventions. In this article we review the molecular epidemiological and laboratory evidence linking SOX2 with squamous carcinogenesis, explore in detail the multifaceted impact of SOX2 in SQC, describe areas of uncertainty and highlight areas for potential future research.

SOX2 是一种多效性核转录因子，在干细胞生物学和发育中起主要作用。在过去的 10 年中，SOX2 也被认为是一种谱系特异性致癌基因，特别是在鳞状癌和神经系统肿瘤中，尤其是胶质母细胞瘤。鳞状细胞癌 (SQC) 是一组常见的恶性肿瘤，没有针对性的治疗干预措施。在本文中，我们回顾了将 SOX2 与鳞状细胞癌发生联系起来的分子流行病学和实验室证据，详细探讨了 SOX2 在 SQC 中的多方面影响，描述了不确定的领域并突出了未来潜在研究的领域。