SOX-10 (Melanoma Marker)

SOX-10, a member of the sex-determining region Y-related HMG-box family, is a transcription factor that is expressed in pre-migratory and migrating neural crest cells. Following migration it remains expressed in cells destined for glial, schwannian, and melanocytic differentiation. SOX10 is widely expressed in normal human tissues including melanocytes and breast tissue. SOX10 is also an important marker in malignant tumors such as melanoma, and breast carcinomas of basal-like and triple negative type, gliomas, and benign tumors such as schwannomas. More importantly, SOX10 has been shown to be expressed in 97-100% of desmoplastic and spindle cell melanomas and has also been shown to be expressed in 100% of nevi. Spindle cell and desmoplastic melanomas are rare variants of invasive cutaneous melanoma, with an annual incidence rate of approximately 2 per 100,000. The majority of oligodendrogliomas and a large percentage of astrocytomas and poorly differentiated glioblastomas have also been shown to express SOX10.