SOX10

What is SOX10?

SOX10 is a protein that is made by many different kinds of normal, healthy cells including cells in the skin, salivary glands, and nerves. Tumours that start from these types of tissue may also make SOX-10. Once the SOX-10 protein is made it is held in a part of the cell called the nucleus. The nucleus is an important part of the cell because it holds most of the cells’ genetic material (DNA).

What tests do pathologists perform to look for SOX10?

Pathologists use a test called immunohistochemistry to ‘see’ the SOX-10 inside these cells. Pathologists will perform this test when they are trying to decide if the cells that they are looking at under the microscope are one of the cell types that normally make SOX-10.

Cells that make this protein will be called positive or reactive. Cells that do not make this protein will be called negative or non-reactive.