World Journal of Oncology, ISSN 1920-4531 print, 1920-454X online, Open Access
Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, World J Oncol and Elmer Press Inc
Journal website https://wjon.elmerpub.com

Original Article

Volume 16, Number 1, February 2025, pages 104-112

Methylation of SOX1 and PAX1 Are Risk Factors and Potential Biomarkers for Cervical Lesions

Figures

↓  Figure 1. H&E staining images of patients in each group (× 100). (a) Inflammation group. (b) LSIL group. (c) HSIL group. (d) CSCC group. H&E: hematoxylin and eosin stain; LSIL: low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; HSIL: high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; CSCC: cervical squamous cell carcinoma.
Figure 1.
↓  Figure 2. Methylation index of PAX1 (a) and SOX1 (b) in paraffin-embedded tissue samples of 139 patients undergoing cervical biopsy. LSIL: low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; HSIL: high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; CSCC: cervical squamous cell carcinoma; M-index: methylation index; PAX1m: PAX1 methylation; SOX1m: SOX1 methylation.
Figure 2.
↓  Figure 3. Methylation positivity rates of PAX1 and SOX1 in paraffin-embedded tissue samples of 139 patients undergoing cervical biopsy. (a) Methylation positivity rates of PAX1 and SOX1 in cervical biopsy tissue samples of patients in different stages. (b) Methylation positivity rates of PAX1 and SOX1 in cervical biopsy tissue samples of patients in different age groups. (c) Methylation positivity rates of PAX1 and SOX1 in cervical biopsy tissue samples of patients with HPV infection. LSIL: low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; HSIL: high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; CSCC: cervical squamous cell carcinoma; HPV: human papillomavirus; M-index: methylation index; PAX1m: PAX1 methylation; SOX1m: SOX1 methylation.
Figure 3.

Tables

↓  Table 1. The Clinical Characteristics of the 139 Patients
 
Parameter Chronic cervicitis LSIL HSIL CSCC
LSIL: low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; HSIL: high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; CSCC: cervical squamous cell carcinoma; HPV: human papillomavirus.
Number of patients 32 30 50 27
Age
  ≤ 39 12 15 29 6
  40 - 59 14 10 19 18
  ≥ 60 6 5 2 3
HPV
  Positive 2 19 46 24
  Negative 30 11 4 3

 

↓  Table 2. Methylation Index of PAX1 and SOX1
 
Group PAX1 SOX1
M-index P M-index P
****P < 0.0001. M-index: methylation index; LSIL: low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; HSIL: high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; CSCC: cervical squamous cell carcinoma.
Inflammation 0 (0, 0) 0 (0, 0)
LSIL 0 (0, 0.45) 0.1095 0 (0, 0) 0.1718
HSIL 0.9150 (0, 50.01) < 0.0001**** 0 (0, 36.21) < 0.0001****
CSCC 1,259 (514.7, 5,176) < 0.0001**** 1,743 (625, 3,711) < 0.0001****

 

↓  Table 3. Methylation Positivity Rates of PAX1 and SOX1 in Cervical Biopsy Tissue Samples of 139 Patients
 
PAX1m SOX1m PAX1m + SOX1m
Negative Positive P χ2 Negative Positive P χ2 Negative Positive P χ2
PAX1m: PAX1 methylation; SOX1m: SOX1 methylation; LSIL: low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; HSIL: high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; CSCC: cervical squamous cell carcinoma; HPV: human papillomavirus; CI: confidence interval.
Age
  ≤ 39 30 17 0.27 2.59 30 17 0.65 0.86 25 22 0.9 0.21
-63.83% -36.17% -63.83% -36.17% -53.19% -46.81%
  40 - 59 23 24 26 21 24 23
-48.94% -51.06% -55.32% -44.68% -51.06% -48.94%
  ≥ 60 6 7 7 6 6 7
-46.15% -53.85% -53.85% -46.15% -46.15% -53.85%
HPV
  Negative 12 6 0.28 1.16 13 5 0.21 1.59 11 7 0.32 0.98
-66.67% -33.33% -72.22% -27.78% -61.11% -38.89%
  Positive 47 42 50 39 43 46
-52.81% -47.19% -56.18% -43.82% -48.31% -51.69%
Cervix
  Inflammation 31 1 < 0.0001 65.8 31 1 < 0.0001 50.7 30 2 < 0.0001 60.8
-96.88% -3.13% -96.88% -3.13% -93.75% -6.25%
  LSIL 27 3 27 3 26 4
-90.00% -10.00% -90.00% -10.00% -86.67% -13.33%
  HSIL 28 22 30 20 24 26
-56.00% -44.00% -60.00% -40.00% -48.00% -52.00%
  CSCC 3 24 6 21 3 24
-11.11% -88.89% -22.22% -77.78% -11.11% -88.89%

 

↓  Table 4. Sensitivity, Specificity, and Odds Ratios (ORs) of HPV Detection, PAX1 Methylation Detection, and SOX1 Methylation Detection in 139 Patients
 
Sensitivity Specificity OR P 95% CI
PAX1m: PAX1 methylation; SOX1m: SOX1 methylation; LSIL: low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; HSIL: high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion; CSCC: cervical squamous cell carcinoma; HPV: human papillomavirus; CI: confidence interval.
Inflammation/LSIL
  HPV 63.33% 93.75% 25.91 < 0.0001 5.17 - 129.94
  PAX1m 10.00% 96.88% 3.44 0.27 0.34 - 35.09
  SOX1m 10.00% 96.88% 3.44 0.27 0.34 - 35.09
  PAX1m + SOX1m 13.33% 93.75% 2.31 0.35 0.39 - 13.64
Inflammation/HSIL
  HPV 92.00% 93.75% 172.5 < 0.0001 29.72 - 1,001.24
  PAX1m 44.00% 96.88% 24.36 < 0.0001 3.08 - 192.67
  SOX1m 40.00% 96.88% 20.67 < 0.0001 2.61 - 163.80
  PAX1m + SOX1m 52.00% 93.75% 16.25 < 0.0001 3.50 - 75.43
Inflammation/CSCC
  HPV 88.89% 93.75% 120 < 0.0001 18.53 - 777.02
  PAX1m 88.89% 96.88% 248 < 0.0001 24.25 - 2,536.38
  SOX1m 77.78% 96.88% 108.5 < 0.0001 12.16 - 967.80
  PAX1m + SOX1m 88.89% 93.75% 120 < 0.0001 18.53 - 777.02